Twin car bombs targeting Iraqi governor kill at least 22

Twin car bombs targeting Iraqi governor kill at least 22

2011-06-21 20:09:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- At least 22 people were killed on Tuesday and 35 others were wounded in Iraq during two bomb explosions that targeted a local governor in the south-central region of the country, officials said.

The attack happened at around 8.15 a.m. local time in the city of Al Diwaniya, which is the capital of Iraq's Al-QÄdisiyyah Governorate, located about 180 kilometers (112 miles) south of Baghdad. At that time, the first suicide bomber using an explosive-filled vehicle blew himself up in front of governor Salem Hussein Alwan's residence in the city's Al Sawb Al Saghir area, the Iraqi Defense Ministry told Alsumaria news.

According to Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Mohammed Al Askari, police forces and Civil Defense personnel rushed to the scene, and upon their arrival, another suicide car bomber detonated the second blast.

Most of the fatal victims were police officers, according to officials. Security forces have cordoned off the area and increased security measures in the area. It was not immediately clear if governor Alwan and his family were among the casualties.

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