Iraqi officials say bomb blast kills 6 policemen, injures 10 southeast of Baghdad

Protesters chant slogans in support of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they carry a large national flag during a rally in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Friday's protesters were joined for the first time by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical, anti-American Shiite cleric. The protesters have staged weekly rallies since last month to press demands for reforms, better services and an end to corruption. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Protesters chant in support of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they carry national flags during a demonstration in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Friday's protesters were joined for the first time by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical, anti-American Shiite cleric. The protesters have staged weekly rallies since last month to press demands for reforms, better services and an end to corruption. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Iraqi officials say an explosion has ripped through the parking lot of a Baghdad police station when a police bomb squad tried to defuse a car bomb while colleagues looked on, killing six and wounding 10.

Police and hospital officials say the blast took place in southeast Baghdad on Friday, a day after police in the area towed a suspicious car to the police station. The six killed were three bomb squad members and three policemen.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Baghdad has for years seen near daily attacks targeting civilians and security forces by car bombs, suicide attacks and roadside explosions. The attacks are mostly blamed on Sunni militants.