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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Baghdad police attack 'kills 28' | Baghdad police attack 'kills 28' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A suicide bomber has killed 28 people at a police recruitment centre in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police say. | A suicide bomber has killed 28 people at a police recruitment centre in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police say. |
| At least 57 other people were wounded in the attack, reportedly carried out by a bomber on a motorcycle. | At least 57 other people were wounded in the attack, reportedly carried out by a bomber on a motorcycle. |
| The blast hit would-be recruits queuing outside the academy, which has been targeted at least twice before. | The blast hit would-be recruits queuing outside the academy, which has been targeted at least twice before. |
| The level of violence in Iraq has dipped significantly since 2007, but remains a feature of daily life for many Iraqis. | The level of violence in Iraq has dipped significantly since 2007, but remains a feature of daily life for many Iraqis. |
| At least 12 people died two days ago when a car bomb exploded at a cattle market in Babil province. | At least 12 people died two days ago when a car bomb exploded at a cattle market in Babil province. |
| There are still almost daily violent incidents in Baghdad. | There are still almost daily violent incidents in Baghdad. |
| Explosives belt | Explosives belt |
| The attack happened at about 1000 (0700 GMT) in "the middle of a crowd outside the [police] academy on Palestine Street", a police official told AFP news agency. | The attack happened at about 1000 (0700 GMT) in "the middle of a crowd outside the [police] academy on Palestine Street", a police official told AFP news agency. |
| Reports suggest the bomber detonated a belt of explosives as he crashed his motorbike into a line of people waiting at the side entrance to the academy. Some of the dead were policemen, while others were police recruits and civilians. | |
| The reported death toll quickly rose, making this the deadliest suicide strike reported in Iraq for nearly a month. | The reported death toll quickly rose, making this the deadliest suicide strike reported in Iraq for nearly a month. |
| Police recruitment centres have been a popular target for insurgents, and this academy has been attacked before. | |
| On 1 December last year, 15 police and recruits were killed, and another 45 people injured, in twin blasts at the building. | |
| And in 2005 two female suicide bombers attacked the building, killing 40 people. | And in 2005 two female suicide bombers attacked the building, killing 40 people. |
| The BBC's Mike Sergeant says that measures have been taken to try to protect the building, such as setting up concrete blocks and checkpoints nearby. | |
| But he says that with the streams of police and recruits coming and going it is difficult to make it secure. | |
| Iraq has massively expanded its police and military forces over recent years as the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki seeks to ensure local forces can provide security. | Iraq has massively expanded its police and military forces over recent years as the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki seeks to ensure local forces can provide security. |
| US President Barack Obama says the US "combat mission" in Iraq will end by August 2010, with two-thirds of American troops scheduled to leave by that point. | US President Barack Obama says the US "combat mission" in Iraq will end by August 2010, with two-thirds of American troops scheduled to leave by that point. |