Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Times
June 1, 2008
BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint west of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 10 people, including the local police chief, an official said.
The attack took place in Hit, a large town 85 miles west of Baghdad, in Anbar Province.
Fearing more attacks, the authorities imposed a vehicle ban and closed all entrances to the town.
The attacker detonated his explosives belt after approaching the checkpoint, which was near a bridge, about 9 p.m., said the town’s administrator, Hikmat Jubeir.
Mr. Jubeir said six policemen were among those killed, including the police chief, Col. Khalil Ibrahim. Four civilians were killed, and 12 other people were wounded, he said.
Anbar Province was the center of the Sunni-led insurgency before local tribal leaders joined forces with the United States military against Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the Iraqi insurgent group that American officials believe is led by foreigners.
Hit was among a series of communities along the Euphrates River used by Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and other insurgent groups to smuggle weapons, ammunition and fighters from Syria southeast toward Baghdad.
The bombing raised the number of Iraqis killed in May to at least 532, the lowest monthly death toll this year, according to a tally by The Associated Press that is compiled from Iraqi police and military reports.
June 1, 2008
BAGHDAD (AP) — A suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint west of Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least 10 people, including the local police chief, an official said.
The attack took place in Hit, a large town 85 miles west of Baghdad, in Anbar Province.
Fearing more attacks, the authorities imposed a vehicle ban and closed all entrances to the town.
The attacker detonated his explosives belt after approaching the checkpoint, which was near a bridge, about 9 p.m., said the town’s administrator, Hikmat Jubeir.
Mr. Jubeir said six policemen were among those killed, including the police chief, Col. Khalil Ibrahim. Four civilians were killed, and 12 other people were wounded, he said.
Anbar Province was the center of the Sunni-led insurgency before local tribal leaders joined forces with the United States military against Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the Iraqi insurgent group that American officials believe is led by foreigners.
Hit was among a series of communities along the Euphrates River used by Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and other insurgent groups to smuggle weapons, ammunition and fighters from Syria southeast toward Baghdad.
The bombing raised the number of Iraqis killed in May to at least 532, the lowest monthly death toll this year, according to a tally by The Associated Press that is compiled from Iraqi police and military reports.