Militants attack balloting center in Iraq, kill 10

By: 10 years ago

Civilians inspect damage in the aftermath of a Monday car bomb attack in a crowded commercial street in Baghdad’s eastern neighborhood of Sadr City, Iraq, Tuesday, April 22, 2014. Suicide bombings and other attacks across Iraq killed and wounded dozens on Monday, officials said, the latest in an uptick in violence as the country counts down to crucial parliamentary elections later this month. AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq—A senior Iraqi police officer says militants attacked a balloting center in a remote area in the country’s north and killed 10 guards.

It was the latest in a surge in militant attacks in the run-up to Iraq’s crucial parliament elections on April 30.

Deputy police chief in the northern city of Kirkuk says the attack occurred late on Monday night in Daqouq village.

Major General Torhan Abdul-Rahman Youssef says the gunmen were disguised in military uniforms and told the guards at the polling center that they were there to do a search.

Youssef says the militants later shot to death the 10 guards.

Daqouq is located about 260 kilometers (162 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad.