Seven policemen killed in explosion northeast of Baghdad

Seven policemen were killed and at least 20 others wounded when an explosion occurred at a police station in Maqdadiyah town in Diyala province, local police told Xinhua.

"A powerful explosion took place at the Maqdadiyah police station early in the morning, killing seven policemen and wounding at least 20 others," a source from the provincial Diyala media office said.

The police could not immediately confirm the cause of the blast, which set ablaze several cars and damaged part of the police compound in the town, some 100 km northeast of Baghdad, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, is a hot bed for insurgency against the U.S. and Iraqi security forces.

Source: Xinhua