Iraq suicide car bombing kills 21 police

A suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a police station south of Baghdad before blowing it up on Thursday, killing at least 21 policemen in Iraq’s deadliest attack in a month.

The blast, which also wounded at least 75 policemen, left a two-metre (six-foot) crater and badly damaged the police station in the centre of the mainly Shiite city of Hilla, capital of Babil province, in addition to several nearby houses and shops.

Thursday’s violence, which left 22 dead nationwide, comes with just months to go before all US troops must withdraw from Iraq, with Iraqi officials insisting local forces can maintain security in the war-wracked country.

“The suicide bomber took advantage of the police station’s guards changing shifts to attack,” said Haidar al-Zazour, the head of the Babil provincial council security committee.

“He managed to drive through the main gate and blew up his vehicle four metres (12 feet) inside the station’s perimeter.”

The chief of Hilla’s main surgical hospital put the toll from Thursday’s suicide bombing at 21 dead and 75 wounded, all policeman. Of the wounded, 30 were in serious condition, the doctor said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Among the dead in the 7:00 am (0400 GMT) blast were a police captain and a first lieutenant, a police official said. There were also three officers among the wounded.