At least 19 people were killed and 67 others were wounded Thursday in three explosions in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, two police officials said.

A roadside bomb and a motorcycle exploded in quick succession in a busy commercial district that includes shops and restaurants, the officials said.

When curious onlookers and Iraqi security forces arrived to the scene to investigate, another motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated, causing most of the casualties, police said. A number of Iraqi police and army security officers were among the dead, the officials said.

The oil-rich, predominantly Shiite city of Basra is about 500 km (310 miles) south of Baghdad.