Police and health officials say gunmen have broken into a house in eastern Baghdad, killing six members of an Iraqi family.

Two police officers say the attackers were armed with pistols fitted with silencers. The incident took place at dawn on Tuesday in the city's Zayona neighborhood. The officers say the parents, two children aged 10 and 12 years, and two relatives were killed.

They say the motive was unknown and nothing appeared to be stolen from the house.

Insurgents still stage attacks against civilians, government and security officials across Iraq, but personal disputes and feuds can sometimes be behind assaults on family home.

A health official in a nearby hospital confirmed the death toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.