10 Iraqi policemen were killed and 16 others were injured on Monday in a suicide attack in the central city of Samarra.

Ten Iraqi policemen were killed and 16 others were injured on Monday in a suicide attack in the central city of Samarra, police said.

A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-packed vehicle into a compound for an emergency response unit which had been moved to the city to help with security for holy shrines visitors earlier this month, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Samarra holds within the holy shrine of Imam Hasan al-Askari (pbuh), and is considered as the destination of faithful visitors.