Reports from northern Iraq say that gunmen dressed in military uniforms have broken into the city-council and courthouse complex in Samarra and taken hostages.
Reuters quoted officials and witnesses as saying at least 16 police officers and eight civilians were wounded in the incident, including the deputy head of the city council, Ammar Ahmad, and a second council member.
Police Lieutenant Dhafir Ahmad said the fighters stormed the site after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the compound.
He said the gunmen remained in the council building and that local council employees and court employees were inside.
It's the second such attack in central Salah al-Din Province in recent months. Iraq has been witnessing its worst violence since 2008.
Reuters quoted officials and witnesses as saying at least 16 police officers and eight civilians were wounded in the incident, including the deputy head of the city council, Ammar Ahmad, and a second council member.
Police Lieutenant Dhafir Ahmad said the fighters stormed the site after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the compound.
He said the gunmen remained in the council building and that local council employees and court employees were inside.
It's the second such attack in central Salah al-Din Province in recent months. Iraq has been witnessing its worst violence since 2008.
