Female bomber kills nine in Iraq
Wednesday, 08 Oct 2008 14:59
Nine people die after female suicide bomber blows herself up outside courthouse in Iraq's Diyala province
At least nine people have died after a female suicide bomber blew herself up in Iraq's Diyala province.
The blast, which took place outside a courthouse in provincial capital Baquba, 35 miles north of Baghdad, also wounded at least 20 people.
According to witnesses, five security guards, one policeman and three civilians died when the bomber detonated her explosive belt at a security checkpoint.
Hours after the bombing, police arrested a 38-year-old woman suspected of leading an al-Qaida cell of female suicide bombers.
Diyala was the site of a massive offensive by coalition troops in July, but the province remains a stronghold for militant activity.
More than half of the 30 suicide bombings involving women in Iraq this year have taken place in Diyala.