Suicide attack kills 8 in northern Iraq, officials say

BAGHDAD – Authorities in Iraq say a suicide truck bomb attack has killed eight people, including a senior police officer.

Police officials said Saturday that the attack happened late Friday when the suicide attacker drove his bomb-laden truck into the convoy of police Lt. Gen. Faisal Malik, who was inspecting troops in the town of Beiji.

Police and hospital officials say the attack killed Faisal and seven police officers, while wounding 15 people. No one immediately claimed the attack, which comes as Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes battle the Islamic State group, which now holds a third of the country.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

Beiji, home to Iraq's largest oil refinery, is 250 kilometers north of Baghdad.