Five die in suicide bomb near Iraqi police station

A SUICIDE bomber has detonated an explosives-laden truck near a police station in central Iraq, killing five policemen.

The attack in Tikrit, north of Baghdad, also wounded 15, according to Iraqi health official Raed Ibrahim. The attack was also confirmed by politician Qutayba al-Jabouri.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but such attacks are typical of al Qaida’s Iraq branch, the Islamic State of Iraq.

The militant Sunni group frequently uses car bombs, suicide bombers and co-ordinated blasts to target Shiites and those working with the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Iraqi intelligence officials say that the country’s al Qaida branch is strengthening as it takes advantage of chaos in neighbouring Syria to smuggle in arms, weapons and fighters.