Deadly bombings in Kirkuk

Three bombs have killed more than 27 people in Iraq’s disputed northern oil city of Kirkuk. Interior Ministry and hospital sources also said some 70 were injured. A small bomb stuck to a police officer’s car exploded near police headquarters, followed by two big car bomb blasts. Authorities blamed al Qaeda affiliates.

Iraqi forces have been on high alert for revenge attacks since the US killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan earlier this month. Control of Kirkuk is disputed between Iraq’s central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Medical teams scrambled to treat the wounded. A hospital source said most of them are seriously hurt, and the death toll was expected to rise.

The third bomb targeted the head of Kirkuk’s counter-terrorism unit. Colonel Oras Mohammed was said to have escaped harm, but four bodyguards were among the dead.

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