Iraq: Police headquarters in Kirkuk attacked by suicide bomber
An Iraqi policeman takes pictures of debris at the site of a blast in Baquba, the provincial capital of the Diyala province, on February 23, 2012.
At least 16 people have been killed after an attack on a police headquarters in the Iraqi city of Kikuk on Sunday.
According to Reuters, a suicide bombers detonated a truck packed with explosives outside the compound as gunmen dressed as officers stormed in.
Although police reports say that at least 33 people were killed in the attack, hospitals have only accounted for about 16 bodies in the morgue. Ninety more were reported to be wounded. The explosion also caused damage to nearby buildings, Radio Free Europe reported.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kirkuk, which has massive oil reserves, is one of the most bitterly disputed Iraqi districts, BBC News reported. Home to Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, the city is part of a ongoing dispute between Baghdad and the Kurds over oil and land rights.
Today's attack is a recent in a spate of attacks linked to Al Qaeda, which has been blamed for inflaming sectarian conflict in Iraq, Reuters reported.
The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?