of female suicide bomber kills 15 in iraq

Female suicide bomber kills 15 in Iraq

A female suicide bomber struck near a government compound northeast of Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 40, police said. Nearly 20 suicide attacks this year have been carried out by women.

The bomber detonated her explosives in front of a heavily guarded area that includes the courthouse, the post office and the governor's offices in the city of Baqouba, a police officer said.

The 15 killed included seven policemen, the officer said, giving the casualty toll on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

The attack occurred about 1 p.m., a time when large numbers of people were visiting the compound.