Suicide bombers attack police academy (Update 1)

Blackanthem.com, BAGHDAD, Iraq, December 06, 2005 11:24

Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers responded to the scene of a suicide-bomb attack at an Iraqi Police academy in east Baghdad Dec. 6.

Two terrorists detonated their explosives-laden vests around 12:45 p.m., killing at least 27 Iraqi Police officers and academy students. At least 50 others were wounded, including one U.S. contractor. No U.S. forces were wounded in the terrorist attack.

An ongoing investigation indicates the bombers, earlier reported as females, were male.

One of the suicide bombers detonated near a group of students outside a classroom. Thinking the explosion was an indirect-fire attack, IPs and students fled to a bunker for shelter where the second bomber detonated his vest. Early reports which indicated the bombers walked into a classroom proved to be erroneous.

Task Force Baghdad military police arrived on the scene to support the IPs in assessing casualties and damage. As military and police forces secured the area around the academy, the wounded were evacuated to the Al Kindi Hospital.

By Task Force Baghdad PAO