At least 47 people were killed and 114 injured in a car bomb attack on a central Baghdad police station on Tuesday morning.

Many of the dead were police recruits who had lined up outside the building, according to reports.

A Toyota 4-door sedan was used in the attack. Preliminary indications had suggested two car bombs were detonated.

"So many injured... they are all over the hospital. It's mayhem here. I can't talk to you right now," an employee at Karkh hospital told CNN.

The attack took place near Haifa Street, where US forces and insurgents have clashed many times in recent weeks.

A number of cars in the road were on fire and helicopters hovered above the scene.