Seven killed in ISIS attack on Najaf police checkpoint

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — At least seven people have been killed and 15 others injured in an attack on a police checkpoint near the Shiite city of Najaf in southern Iraq.

Najaf police spokesman Muqdad al-Musawi told Rudaw: “Terrorists were able to take the opportunity to storm (our base) in Najaf as we are on the first day of New Year.”

“Three suicide bombers in a car bomb stormed the gate to Qadisyah neighborhood, 45 km south of the city center.” Al-Musawi added.

Five of the dead were policemen and the other two were civilians.

“Our policemen stopped the attack from achieving its goals,” the police spokesman said.

“The situation is completely under control,” al-Musawi maintained, adding that they have launched an extensive sweeping of the area to ensure there are no more militants.

The 15 injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in their media outlets.

Today’s attack on the checkpoint comes a day after explosions rocked the Iraqi capital that killed at least 28 people and wounded 50 others.

Najaf and Karbala—home to important Shiite shrines—have often been the scene of deadly militant attacks targeting pilgrims.