Baghdad ( CNN ) -- A car bomber who penetrated Baghdad 's heavily fortified Green Zone this week was targeting the Iraqi prime minister , authorities said Saturday . The attack Monday left two people dead and seven others injured in the Green Zone , which houses the nation 's government offices as well as U.S. and other embassies . Police said the blast occurred at an outdoor parking lot that belongs to the Iraqi parliament . No more details were available immediately on whether lawmakers were among the casualties . Initial inquiries revealed an attempt to kill Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki , according to Major Gen. Qassim Atta , the Baghdad security operations manager . The black car was loaded with explosives and had three ways to detonate : manual , electric and by cell phone , he said . `` The intelligence information we have indicates that the vehicle was supposed to enter the building and park there until the arrival of the prime minister , '' Atta said . Terrorists confessed that the car bomb was targeting the prime minister when he visits parliament in an upcoming session , according to Atta , who did not name the group behind the attacks . The prime minister was not there at the time of the attack , he said . The attacker was in a black Dodge with 20 kg ( 44 lb ) of explosives , and was driving toward parliament when security forces stopped him because he did not have a proper badge . The driver parked at the parliament compound , where the car exploded . The attack comes amid a U.S. military withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country . All American troops are scheduled to be out by the end of the year . Iraqi security forces , including army and police officers , are to assume full responsibility after the withdrawal . CNN 's Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report .
Police : The blast occurs at the Iraqi parliament 's parking lot . Comment: The attack Monday kills two people and injures seven others .