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Iraq police station bomb kills 18 | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A suicide bomber driving a truck has detonated explosives outside a Baghdad police station, killing at least 18 people, Iraqi police say. | |
The attack happened in the mainly Sunni district of Doura in southern Baghdad. | The attack happened in the mainly Sunni district of Doura in southern Baghdad. |
The bombing came a few hours after mortars landed in a Shia enclave in Doura, killing at least three people. | The bombing came a few hours after mortars landed in a Shia enclave in Doura, killing at least three people. |
The violence happened as US and Iraqi troops set up checkpoints and sealed off a large part of central Baghdad as part of the ongoing security operation. | The violence happened as US and Iraqi troops set up checkpoints and sealed off a large part of central Baghdad as part of the ongoing security operation. |
All vehicles and pedestrians were stopped from entering the Karrada district, next to the fortified international zone where the Iraqi government headquarters, diplomats and much of the US military is based. | All vehicles and pedestrians were stopped from entering the Karrada district, next to the fortified international zone where the Iraqi government headquarters, diplomats and much of the US military is based. |
Building work | Building work |
The latest blast, which sent a plume of black smoke into the sky, could be heard across the Iraqi capital. | The latest blast, which sent a plume of black smoke into the sky, could be heard across the Iraqi capital. |
Most of those killed were police officers. A further 23 people were injured in the blast. | |
A police officer who witnessed the attack told the Associated Press news agency that the bomber was able to take advantage of building work being done at the police station, getting round security by hiding his explosives under bricks. | A police officer who witnessed the attack told the Associated Press news agency that the bomber was able to take advantage of building work being done at the police station, getting round security by hiding his explosives under bricks. |
"We were very cautious, but this time we were taken by surprise," Police Cpl Hussam Ali said. "The insurgents are inventing new methods to hurt us." | |
The bomb blast caused part of the building to collapse. | |
Among other reported violent incidents in Iraq on Saturday: | |
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The latest violence follows some high-profile attacks earlier in the week. | |
On Thursday, a mortar landed in the zone near the building where the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki were holding a news conference. | |
A double bombing just outside the zone on Friday injured one of Iraq's deputy prime ministers, Salam Zaubai, and left nine people dead. | |
Mr Zaubai was said to be in a stable condition after he had surgery to remove shrapnel. |