12 people killed in car bomb attack in Presidential Palace compound in northern Iraq

12 people killed in car bomb attack in Presidential Palace compound in northern Iraq

2011-06-07 03:29:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

SALAH AL-DIN, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- A car bomb on Monday exploded in the Presidential Palace compound in northern Iraq, killing 12 people and injuring 20 more, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.

A vehicle loaded with explosives was detonated by a suicide bomber in the Presidential Palace compound in Tikrit city, in Salah al-Din province. The terror attack was the second in the site in June.

The suicide bombing took place during a celebration marking the handing over of the mission of protecting the compound to the Iraqi troops. The Tikrit presidential palace was the residence of late leader Saddam Hussein.

At least 12 people were killed in the car bomb attack, 4 of them Army officers and 5 soldiers. Furthermore, 20 people were injured including civilians, police officers and Army service members.

One of the victims was the Commander of the 1st Brigade of the Iraqi Army's 4th Division, Lt. Brigadier, Nouri Sabah. The Iraqi and U.S. forces have secured the entrance to the compound. The blast also destroyed a number of vehicles parked nearby.

Last Friday, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the al-Farouq mosque within the Presidential Palace. The attack killed 19 persons and wounded 72 others, most of them members of the security forces, judges and 2 of the Province's Council members.

The al-Farouq mosque is usually attended by high ranking officials. On Friday night, four people, including 2 police officers, were killed and 3 more people injured in another suicide bombing in Tikrit's Teaching hospital.

The attack targeted Iraqi Islamic Party's Legislature, Mutashar Hussein Allawi, but he escaped the assassination attempt. Three of his bodyguards were killed in the attack. Tikrit is located in the Salah al-Din Province, about 175 kilometers (108 miles) to the north of Baghdad.

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