TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - Suicide bombers struck a state-run power station north of Baghdad early on Saturday, killing seven people and forcing the facility to shut down in an attack claimed by Islamic State, police and army sources said.

At least three gunmen wearing explosive vests attacked the power station around 3 a.m. local time, near the northern city of Samarra, about 100 km (60 miles) north of Baghdad. They used grenades to enter the facility.

“I was on my night shift and suddenly heard shooting and blasts. A few minutes later I saw one attacker wearing a military uniform and throwing grenades through the windows,” said Raied Khalid, a worker who was injured by shrapnel.

Security sources said the three gunmen briefly took control of the station, but police managed to regain control after three hours.

Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

Four policemen and three workers were killed in the assault, in which 13 were wounded, police and medical sources from a nearby hospital said.

One of the attackers, who was cornered by security forces, detonated his suicide vest near one the power generators, causing a fire.

The two other gunmen were killed, security sources said, either by blowing themselves up or in clashes with the security forces.

Operations at the facility were expected to be suspended briefly, while repairs were under way, electricity officials said.</s>A Shiite militia fighter stands guard in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra on January 17, 2017, following an attack by the Islamic State group (AFP Photo/HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI)

Samarra (Iraq) (AFP) - Suicide bombers killed seven people and wounded 12 in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi security official said.

Armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts, three attackers entered the facility in Samarra, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the capital, at 2:00 am, the official told AFP.

"They attacked the plant's workers, killing seven and wounding 12, according to an initial assessment," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Security reinforcements then arrived on the scene, killing two of the bombers and evacuating the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State jihadist group frequently carries out suicide bombings in Iraq.

In 2014, IS captured almost a third of Iraqi territory in a lightning offensive. It now only holds two pockets of territory in the country.</s>Suicide bombers kill seven in attack on Iraq power plant

The attacks came as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of Eid al-Adha. — Reuters picSAMARRA, Sept 2 — Suicide bombers killed seven people and wounded 12 in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad today, an Iraqi security official said.

Armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts, three attackers entered the facility in Samarra, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the capital, at 2:00 am, the official told AFP.

“They attacked the plant’s workers, killing seven and wounding 12, according to an initial assessment,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Security reinforcements then arrived on the scene, killing two of the bombers and evacuating the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State jihadist group frequently carries out suicide bombings in Iraq.

In 2014, IS captured almost a third of Iraqi territory in a lightning offensive. It now only holds two pockets of territory in the country. — AFP</s>Samarra - Suicide bombers killed seven people and wounded 12 in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi security official said.

Armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts, three attackers entered the facility in Samarra, about 100km north of the capital, at 2:00 AM, the official told AFP.

"They attacked the plant's workers, killing seven and wounding 12, according to an initial assessment," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Security reinforcements then arrived on the scene, killing two of the bombers and evacuating the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State jihadist group frequently carries out suicide bombings in Iraq.

In 2014, IS captured almost a third of Iraqi territory in a lightning offensive. It now only holds two pockets of territory in the country.</s>One attacker wearing army uniform and armed with grenades detonates himself while police shoot down two others.

Disguised suicide bombers have killed seven people and wounded 12 others in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad.

General Qassem al-Tamimi, head of a police unit in charge of protecting installations, said three attackers wearing military uniforms and armed with grenades entered the facility near the city of Samarra early on Saturday.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP news agency one of the bombers detonated his explosives belt while two others were shot dead by security reinforcements who rushed to the scene in Samarra, about 100km north of the capital.

He said seven people were killed and 12 wounded in the attack.

Police and medical sources from a nearby hospital told Reuters news agency four policemen and three workers were killed in the assault, putting the number of wounded people at 13.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.

"I was on my night shift and suddenly heard shooting and blasts. A few minutes later I saw one attacker wearing a military uniform and throwing grenades through the windows," said Raied Khalid, a worker who was wounded by shrapnel.

"At 2am we were woken up by shots being fired," Abdel Salam Ahmed, an employee who was hit by gunfire in the legs, told AFP from his hospital bed.

He recalled running with colleagues away from the shooting.

"We ran into one of them. Some of us hid while two others kept running towards the exit, shouting 'we are employees' but they shot them dead," said Ahmed.

Several tanker trucks were also damaged and the remains of one suicide bomber lay on the ground.

The police official said security reinforcements evacuated the employees.

In 2014, ISIL captured almost one-third of Iraqi territory in a lightning offensive. It now only holds two pockets of territory in the country.</s>SAMARRA, Iraq: Suicide bombers dressed as members of the Iraqi security forces killed seven people and wounded 12 in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad on Saturday, officials and a survivor said.

The Daesh group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Wearing military uniforms and armed with grenades, three attackers entered the facility in Samarra, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the capital, said General Qassem al-Tamimi, head of a police unit charged with protecting vital installations.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one of the bombers detonated his explosives belt and the two others were shot dead by security reinforcements who rushed to the scene.

He said seven people were killed and 12 wounded in the attack.

"At 2:00 am we were woken up by shots being fired," Abdel Salam Ahmed, one of the employees who was hit by gunfire in the legs, told AFP from his hospital bed.

He recalled running with colleagues away from the shooting.

"We ran into one of them (the jihadists). Some of us hid while two others kept running towards the exit, shouting ´we are employees´, but they (the attackers) shot them dead," he said.

Prefabricated houses where employees were sleeping were destroyed as explosions rang out in the power plant, an AFP reporter said.

Several tanker trucks were also damaged and the remains of one of the suicide bombers lay on the ground, the reporter said.

The police official said security reinforcements evacuated the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.

The jihadist group, which frequently carries out suicide bombings in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack.</s>BAGHDAD—At least three attackers entered a power station in Samarra Saturday and blew themselves up, killing seven workers and wounding eight security forces, Iraqi authorities said.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said two attackers disguised themselves as workers and a third wore a security forces uniform. Samarra is 125 kilometres north of Baghdad.

Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, claimed responsibility for the dawn attack in an online statement, saying 10 “apostates” had been killed and another 20 wounded.

Electricity Ministry spokesman Musaab al-Mudaris said seven employees were killed and eight security forces were wounded. He said there were four attackers.

Al-Mudaris said one attacker was shot dead and the others blew themselves up.</s>Seven workers were killed when at least three attackers entered a power station and blew themselves up, Iraqi authorities said.

Eight security forces were injured in the suicide bombing in Samarra.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said two of the attackers disguised themselves as workers and a third wore a security forces uniform.

The attack happened at dawn on Saturday. No-one immediately claimed responsibility.

Electricity Ministry spokesman Musaab al-Mudaris said seven employees were killed and eight security forces were wounded. He put the number of attackers at four.

Mr Al-Mudaris said one attacker was shot dead, while the others blew themselves up.

Samarra is 78 miles north of the capital, Baghdad.</s>Suicide bombers killed seven people and wounded 12 in an attack on a power plant north of Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi security official said.

Armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts, three attackers entered the facility in Samarra, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the capital, at 2:00 am, the official told AFP.

“They attacked the plant’s workers, killing seven and wounding 12, according to an initial assessment,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Security reinforcements then arrived on the scene, killing two of the bombers and evacuating the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.</s>Baghdad: At least seven people have been killed and 12 others arewounded after three suicide bombers on Saturday attacked on a power plant north of Baghdad on Saturday.

"They attacked the plant's workers, killing seven and wounding 12, according to an initial assessment," local media quoted an official as saying.

Reportedly the attackers were armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts when they entered the facility in Samarra, about 100km north of the capital.

Police have killed two of the bombers and evacuated the employees.

The attack comes as Iraqi Shiites mark the first day of the Eid al-Adha feast.

No group has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far.
Seven people are killed and 13 are injured after suicide bombers hit a state-run power station near the northern city of Samarra, Iraq. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility for the attack.