By NewsGramStaff Writer

A car bomb claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group exploded in a busy market in the Iraqi town, killing at least 115 adults and children celebrating the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, reports said.

About 170 people were wounded by the blast in Khan Bani Saad, a predominantly Shia town in Diyala province, north of Baghdad, the reports added.

Soon after the bomb attacks struck, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned "in the strongest terms" the deadly bomb attack on the market in Baghdad that killed over 100 people.

Ban voiced his hope that the perpetrators "are swiftly brought to justice", said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The attack, which comes at a time when the Iraqi people are celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan, reportedly left over 100 civilians killed and many more injured, including children."

"The secretary-general's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," the statement said. "He hopes that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly brought to justice," the statement said.

Ultra-violent terror group ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter and said the car was carrying around three tonnes of explosives, said the reports.

(With inputs from IANS)