Gunmen kill four during hostage crisis in western Iraq

Gunmen kill four during hostage crisis in western Iraq

2011-10-04 00:13:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

RAMADI, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- A group of gunmen stormed a police station in western Iraq on Monday morning, taking a number of people hostage and killing several of them before security forces took out the attackers, officials said.

The attack happened when a group of seven gunmen attacked the Baghdadi District police station which is located in al-Baghdadi, a city in Iraq's western Anbar Province. At least 18 people were taken hostage, including the district manager and the police chief.

Security forces, including Iraqi soldiers, rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area before they stormed the building, freeing district manager Mohannad Zabbar and thirteen other hostages.

However, police chief Colonel Sadiq Al Obeidi, two police officers and a civilian were killed by the hostage takers when security forces moved in. Seven gunmen were also killed by security forces while two others were arrested, according to the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA).

The gunmen were disguised in police uniforms and reports said there were several explosions during the attack, but it was not immediately known if the hostages were shot dead or if they died as a result of the explosions.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

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