Iraqi forces foil multiple suicide attacks at gas plant near Baghdad

Iraqi security forces on Sunday foiled multiple suicide bomb attacks targeting a gas plant in the northern suburb of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

The attacks occurred in the early morning when two suicide bombers rammed their explosive-laden vehicles into the gas plant gate and blew them up at Taji area, paving the way for six suicide bombers wearing explosive vests to enter the facility and set fires to two gas reservoirs, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The huge fires caused by the explosion extended to several nearby buildings, the source said.

The security forces guarding the facility engaged in fierce clashes with the attackers and managed to kill them all, he said adding that at least three employees were also killed and 13 others injured.

Fire engines and civil defense teams immediately rushed to the scene and started to put out the flames, the source added.

Iraq has been currently witnessing a wave of violence since the Islamic State (IS) group took control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014.

Earlier, a report by the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated that 741 Iraqis were killed and 1,374 others were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflicts across Iraq in April.

(APD)