Gunmen attack police stations in central Iraq, killing 7 officers

Record ID: 163039

  • Title: Gunmen attack police stations in central Iraq, killing 7 officers
  • Date: 3rd January 2017
  • Summary: BLOOD ON THE GROUND
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2017 13:56
  • Keywords: gunmen attack police stations Iraq kill seven officers
  • Location: SAMARRA, IRAQ
  • City: SAMARRA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0025XJ0U9Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Gunmen wearing suicide vests on Monday (January 2) stormed two police stations in Samarra, about 100 km (60 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing at least seven police officers, according to authorities.
    Security sources said multiple gunmen took over the police stations in an attack at night time, before Iraqi forces were able to regain control.
    "The Samarra operations command implemented a special plan to contain the security breach which took place in al-Mutawakl and Imam police stations, which are located in one building. The plan was to surround the location and forcibly storm the building. The plan succeeded, and all five attackers were killed within 45 minutes," said Major General Emad al-Zuhairi, Commander of Samarra Operations Command.
    The mayor of Samarra, Mahmoud Khalaf, said security forces had killed at least six assailants, but declined to comment on the number of casualties on the government side.
    The pro-Islamic State news agency, Amaq, said the militants had executed some policemen.
    The upsurge in violence comes as U.S-backed Iraqi forces try to drive Islamic State from the northern city of Mosul, where the militants are putting up fierce resistance.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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