Iraq jewelry store heists spark gunfights, 7 dead
By Saad Abdul-Kadir APBAGHDAD — Iraqi police say two policemen and five others were killed in gunfights between security forces and armed groups attempting to rob Baghdad jewelry stores.
Police say two carloads of armed attackers attempted apparently coordinated robberies Sunday in western Baghdad's mostly Sunni Mansour neighborhood.
Gunfights broke out as security forces responded, killing the owners of all three jewelry stores, two gunmen and two policemen.
Two police officials gave the toll in the attacks, which was confirmed by a worker at Yarmouk hospital. All spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi police and health officials say rush-hour bombings in Baghdad have killed a government employee and wounded five other people.
Police blamed bombs that were surreptitiously stuck onto cars for both explosions.
In the first, a hospital doctor and his driver were injured in the capital's downtown business district of Karradah around 8:45 a.m. local time. A bystander also was hurt in the blast.
Fifteen minutes later, a bomb hidden on a Ministry of Industry car in south Baghdad killed its driver and injured two bystanders.
Two police officials gave the toll in the attacks, and the deaths were confirmed by hospital workers.
All spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media.
