At least 5 killed in Baghdad suicide bombing

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but most such attacks in Iraq are executed by ISIL

Iraqi security forces working at the scene of a suicide bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. Police and hospital officials say the Saturday blast struck a northern Baghdad neighborhood targeting a police checkpoint on a busy street, and that a number of policemen were among the wounded. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Iraqi security forces working at the scene of a suicide bombing in Baghdad, Iraq on January 14, 2018. Karim Kadim / AP

Jan 14, 2018

At least five people were killed in a suicide bomb attack near a security checkpoint in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday.

Citing Iraqi officials, the Associated Press said eight people were killed and at least 10 others injured in the attack. The report added that a number of policemen were among the wounded.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, gave to AFP an "initial toll of three people killed and 11 wounded" in the attack.

The checkpoint was located near Aden Square in the northern part of the capital, said the Baghdad military command.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but most such attacks in Iraq are executed by ISIL.

The Iraqi government said in December that the war against ISIL was over. The extremist group has been flushed out of the Baghdad region and urban areas it controlled, but it is still active in the north of the capital.

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Iraq has defeated ISIL but there are formidable challenges ahead

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