1st LD: At least 4 killed in suicide bomb attacks in Iraq's Salahudin

At least four people were killed and 11 others wounded on Tuesday in two suicide bomb attacks targeting government-backed paramilitary Shiite unit in Iraq's Salahudin province, a provincial security source told Xinhua.

The attack occurred around noon when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into a checkpoint manned by members of Hashd Shaabi unit and detonated it at the entrance of the town of Sulaiman Beg, some 90 km east of the provincial capital city of Tikrit, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Minutes later, another suicide bomber wearing explosive vest blew himself up when security forces and people gathered at the site of the first blast, the source said.

The attackers apparently followed a familiar tactic frequently used by insurgent groups which depends on creating an initial explosion to attract security forces and people, then they set off another blast to get heavier casualties, he said.

The Iraqi army and allied paramilitary units have been battling IS militants to recapture territories in northern and western Iraq that was seized by the IS since June 2014.

IS frequently carried out attacks against civilians and military across the country in retaliation.

A report by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq estimated that 741 Iraqis were killed and 1,374 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflicts in April across Iraq. Endit