Iraqi officials: Suicide car-bomb attack kills 9 people northeast of Baghdad

BAGHDAD – Authorities in Iraq say a suicide car-bomb attack on a security checkpoint has killed nine people in a city northeast of Baghdad.

Police officials say the attack Thursday afternoon took place when a suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden car into a police checkpoint in the city of Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of the capital. Some policemen were among those killed, and 11 other people were wounded.

Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Iraq is in its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops, as Sunni militant groups led by the al-Qaida breakaway Islamic State group have seized a third of the country since early this year.