A militia fighter prays in a Shiite shrine in Samarra. The predominantly Sunni city is home to some of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam. Two explosions in 2006 that targeted Samarra's Shiite shrine of Imam al-Askari inflamed the sectarian conflict in Iraq. The attack was blamed on Sunni militia and Shiite militia retaliated. Photo: AFP
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Eight Iraqi policemen were killed by ISIS militants in Samarra, north of Baghdad on Monday, a city official said.
Seven others were injured and three ISIS militants were killed after the extremists infiltrated the city 125 kilometres north of Baghdad, Mahmud Khalaf, the mayor of Samarra said.
The militants entered from the eastern side and launched an attack on a security checkpoint.
A curfew was imposed by Iraqi security forces in the city after clashes erupted but has since been lifted.
The predominantly Sunni city is home to some of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam.
In early November, at least eight people died in an ISIS attack targeting Shiite pilgrims to the city.
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