BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide car bomb exploded near a U.S. military vehicle in eastern Baghdad neighborhood of al-Jaddeda Wednesday morning, killing 24 people and wounding 25 others, an Iraqi police official said.

The blast killed at least seven children and a U.S. soldier, according to a U.S. military statement. Three U.S. soldiers were wounded and a nearby house caught fire.

Police said the car pulled up to a U.S. Army Humvee troop carrier and exploded. The soldiers apparently were handing out treats to the children when the bomb went off around 10:50 a.m. (2:50 a.m. ET).

"The car bomber made a deliberate decision to attack one of our vehicles as the soldiers were engaged in a peaceful operation with Iraqi citizens," Maj. Russ Goemaere said in the statement. "The terrorist undoubtedly saw the children around the Humvee as he attacked. The complete disregard for civilian life in this attack is absolutely abhorrent."...