Death toll in the bomb attack in central Baghdad's Sadriyah market, a predominantly Shiite area rose to at least 120 people killed and some 200 wounded on Saturday, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV channel reported.

The attack took place in the busy Sadriyah food market, one of the old popular markets in Baghdad on the east bank of Tigris river, when a truck bomb loaded with food detonated, a source from the interior ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity earlier.

The blast occurred shortly before 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) as the market was crowded with people buying food for their evening meal, the source said.

The powerful blast sent plumes of black smoke into the air and emergency vehicles rushed the wounded to local hospitals.

The area has witnessed a number of large bombings in recent months.

Source: Xinhua