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Islamic State Attack With Explosive-Laden Fuel Tanker Kills at Least 60 Near Baghdad

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in a predominantly Shiite region about 60 miles south of the Iraqi capital, the latest in a recent wave of deadly bombings across the country.
Photo by Khider Abbas/EPA

The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack with an explosive-laden fuel tanker on an Iraqi police checkpoint south of Baghdad, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 70, medical and security officials said.

"A martyr's operation with a truck bomb hit the Babylon Ruins checkpoint at the entrance of the city of Hilla, killing and wounding dozens," the militant group said in a statement.

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Hilla is the capital of Babylon province, a predominantly Shiite region with some Sunni presence located about 60 miles south of Baghdad.

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"It's the largest bombing in the province to date," Falah al-Radhi, the head of the provincial security committee, told Reuters. "The checkpoint, the nearby police station were destroyed as well as some houses and dozens of cars."

A provincial hospital official confirmed the number of casualties. Many had suffered burn injuries.

Sunday's incident was the latest in a recent wave of deadly bombings across Iraq that has killed more than 100 people.

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