Details of the attack, the second on the compound this month, were still sketchy, with some confusion surrounding the number of those killed and injured.
“The death toll has risen to 17, most of them police officers, and 47 people have been wounded,” said a police official at the site of the attack. He said the blasts were caused by two successive vehicle bombs. Anbar Governor Qassim Mohammed said the first blast happened when a minibus exploded outside the compound. The second blast was caused by a suicide bomber on foot, disguised as a policeman.
The compound houses the provincial council as well as the police headquarters for Anbar province.
Published 27 December 2010, 16:58 IST