At least 16 dead in mosque bombing in northern Iraq

At least 16 dead in mosque bombing in northern Iraq

2011-06-04 00:11:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

TIKRIT, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- An explosive device on Friday was detonated at a mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit killing at least 16 people and wounding many more.

According to the Aswat al-Iraq news agency, an explosion took place in downtown Tikrit, in Salah al-Din province. The bombing occurred in the mosque within the Presidential Palace of late leader Saddam Hussein.

At least 16 people were killed in the attack, including Judge Talib Al-Azzawi and a senior army officer. Furthermore, 37 people were injured and 9 of them are in critical condition.

Among the wounded were two provincial council's members and two Members of the Parliament. The mosque is usually attended by high ranking officials. Preliminary reports indicate that the attack may have been a suicide bombing.

Also on Friday, authorities said that the death toll of the explosions in Ramadi, Anbar province increased to 7 people including 4 law enforcement agents. In addition 18 people were injured, 11 of them were security forces personnel.

Four blasts rocked the city on Thursday. One explosion took place in the main street No. 17. A car-bomb later exploded near a governmental complex and the other 2 attacks occurred near the Nationality Department.

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