Explosions leave four dead in Iraqi city of Baqouba
Three explosions – one of them caused by a suicide bomber on a bicycle - killed at least four people and injured 20 north of Baghdad, police said.
The suicide attacker missed a police patrol, killing two civilians and injuring six in downtown Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad. The provincial police command said the bomber’s explosives appeared to have detonated prematurely as he was cycling towards the patrol.
Later, an explosion in a mobile phone shop killed two more people and injured 12, police said.
Police at the scene found apparatus used to detonate explosives, leading them to suspect the shop may have been used to manufacture bombs. At least five other shops were damaged in the blast.
Another bomb targeting a police patrol injured two officers, police said.
The city has seen repeated attacks in recent weeks.
The Iraqi army hit back today, arresting about 20 suspects and confiscating numerous weapons in a dawn raid in a nearby farming area, said Lt. Col. Tarik Muhei.
