(KUNA) -- At least eight people were killed early on Thursday and 10 others wounded when a booby-trapped car exploded Thursday near the passport department on Baghdad. An Interior Ministry source told reporters that this was the preliminary casualty count.Ambulances rushed to the site of the explosion and police prevented civilians from coming close to the area. The booby-trapped car had been parked near a checkpoint only 100 meters away from the main passport department on Alawiya Street. The area is one of the capital's busiest districts and is home to three hospital, the main criminal and passport departments, as well as the Ministry of Higher Education.