BAGHDAD — Two suicide bombers detonated explosive vests in a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 15 people in the first such attack in several years, according to Iraq’s interior ministry.

“The first suicide bomber blew himself up after pretending to be sick to gather people around him,” said Maj. Gen. Khalid al Muhanna, a spokesman for the ministry. He said the bomber had fallen to the ground and then detonated the vest after people rushed to help him. The second bomber detonated his explosive nearby minutes later.

The interior ministry said there were at least 15 people confirmed dead and at least 28 wounded.

General Muhanna said the authorities suspected that the attackers were connected to the Islamic State terrorist group or an offshoot of it, although no group immediately claimed responsibility.

The Iraqi and U.S. governments have declared ISIS largely defeated in Iraq. The United States is withdrawing most of its troops from the country, saying that Iraq is now capable of fighting ISIS on its own.

Falih Hassan contributed reporting.

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