Car Bomb Explodes Outside U.S. Consulate in Iraq

IRBIL, Iraq (TheBlaze/AP) -- A car bomb exploded outside the U.S. Consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish autonomy zone.

IRBIL, Iraq (@AP) - Car bomb explodes outside US Consulate in northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW) April 17, 2015

There was no immediate word on casualties. A U.S. official said no consulate personnel or guards were killed or injured in Friday's blast. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

An Associated Press reporter on the scene said the large blast went off just outside the consulate building in Irbil's Ankawa neighborhood, setting nearby cars on fire. Kurdish security forces quickly arrived on the scene.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

An explosion felt outside the US consulate in Irbil has been confirmed as a car bomb (pic h/t @JohnArterbury) pic.twitter.com/EzuQ0mwrzV

— Nick Kaderbhai (@Nickaderbhai) April 17, 2015

PT: A car that was likely a car bomb pic.twitter.com/gduVWoAXwG

— Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992)

April 17, 2015

A series of bombings were also reported Friday about 225 miles south of Irbil in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Most of the attacks occurred in public places, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 people.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the bombings in Baghdad but the Islamic State terrorist group has taken credit for similar attacks in the past.

This post has been updated.