A car bomb went off outside a police station in western Baghdad on Monday, either killing or wounding at least 15 people, witnesses said.

Witnesses at the scene, including medical workers evacuating the casualties, gave conflicting reports about the death toll, saying up to nine people may have died.

The blast in the Ameriyah district targeted the police force's bureau of criminal investigations. Several people were seen being carried away from the scene minutes after the blast.

Thick smoke was seen rising from the scene, but the extent of the damage was not immediately clear. U.S. troops cordoned off the area.

The explosion occurred a day after U.S. officials announced the capture of Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein.

Reports of a second explosion north of Baghdad could not immediately be confirmed.

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