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Suicide bombers launch attack on Iraqi gas plant near Baghdad Suicide bombers launch attack on Iraqi gas plant near Baghdad
(4 months later)
Suicide attackers have broken into a gas plant north of Baghdad, killing at least seven people and setting fire to gas tanks, officials have said.Suicide attackers have broken into a gas plant north of Baghdad, killing at least seven people and setting fire to gas tanks, officials have said.
The attack on the Taji plant, about 12 miles (20km) north of the capital, happened at about 6am local time on Sunday.The attack on the Taji plant, about 12 miles (20km) north of the capital, happened at about 6am local time on Sunday.
Eight bombers broke into the plant and blew up a car bomb at one of its entrances, an interior ministry spokesman, Saad Maan, said.Eight bombers broke into the plant and blew up a car bomb at one of its entrances, an interior ministry spokesman, Saad Maan, said.
Some of the attackers detonated suicide belts while others were killed by gunfire, according to Maan, who said explosions set fire to three gas tanks.Some of the attackers detonated suicide belts while others were killed by gunfire, according to Maan, who said explosions set fire to three gas tanks.
Related: Car bomb attacks in Baghdad kill at least 90
Footage showed huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky but the Iraqi joint operations command said the fire had been brought under control.Footage showed huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky but the Iraqi joint operations command said the fire had been brought under control.
The attack killed at least seven people and wounded at least 22 more, according to security and medical officials.The attack killed at least seven people and wounded at least 22 more, according to security and medical officials.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack echoed assaults by Islamic State.There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack echoed assaults by Islamic State.
The jihadi group has been steadily losing ground to the Iraqi security forces in recent months. According to the government, Isis controls 14% of Iraqi territory, down from the 40% it held in 2014.The jihadi group has been steadily losing ground to the Iraqi security forces in recent months. According to the government, Isis controls 14% of Iraqi territory, down from the 40% it held in 2014.
But the group has intensified its attacks beyond the frontlines, detonating car bombs in civilian areas and infiltrating sensitive sites with suicide bombers.But the group has intensified its attacks beyond the frontlines, detonating car bombs in civilian areas and infiltrating sensitive sites with suicide bombers.
“Daesh (another name for Isis) is turning to targeting civilian facilities in cities after losing the battle on the front,” said a government military spokesman Col Mohamed al-Bidhani.“Daesh (another name for Isis) is turning to targeting civilian facilities in cities after losing the battle on the front,” said a government military spokesman Col Mohamed al-Bidhani.
On Saturday, a group of Isis suicide bombers snuck into Amriyat al-Fallujah, a government-held town west of Baghdad, killing five people.On Saturday, a group of Isis suicide bombers snuck into Amriyat al-Fallujah, a government-held town west of Baghdad, killing five people.
The group also claimed responsibility for a spate of bombings in Baghdad on Wednesday that killed almost 100 people, the bloodiest day in the Iraqi capital this year.The group also claimed responsibility for a spate of bombings in Baghdad on Wednesday that killed almost 100 people, the bloodiest day in the Iraqi capital this year.