Suicide bomber kills at least 22 north of Baghdad

Baiji: A suicide bomber killed at least 22 people and wounded 70 others in the northern Iraqi town of Baiji on Tuesday, an Iraqi police official said.

It is one of the deadliest attacks in Iraq in two weeks. Among those killed were guards and civilians, including at least three children, a police officer said.

Police said the suicide bomber targeted a security checkpoint on a road leading to a residential compound housing employees of North Oil Company.

Police said the bomber detonated his explosives when police prevented him from entering the gate of the compound.

The blast damaged six vehicles, four apartment blocks and left a large crater in the road.

Iraq's interior minister dismisssed Baiji's police chief shortly after the blast.