Gunmen kill army officer assigned to protect top Iraqi officials; 4 children die in blast

Baghdad gunmen kill army officer in ambush

BAGHDAD — Gunmen opened fire on the car of an army officer assigned to protect Iraqi Cabinet members, killing him and wounding his wife and son in the second attack Thursday targeting staff from Iraq’s government offices, officials said.

Earlier, a bomb attached to the car of a government worker exploded with his family and relatives inside, killing four children.

The attacks are the latest round of violence in the capital, which has seen isolated strikes and major car bombings in recent weeks, including blasts Sunday that claimed more than 30 lives.

The ambush against Lt. Hazim Abdullah occurred on a road in northern Baghdad, said police and hospital officials. Abdullah worked with protection units for Iraq’s government officials.

The bombing, meanwhile, tore through the car of Anmar Taha Ridha, who worked on the maintenance crew of Iraq’s government headquarters. Ridha and his wife were wounded, but their two children — aged six and eight — and two young nephews were killed, police officials said.

Hospital officials confirmed the death toll.

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

Elsewhere in Baghdad, friendly fire killed one policeman at a checkpoint near the Finance Ministry. Police said guards opened fire after the police vehicle attempted to bypass the barricades.