12 killed in blast at Iraq army recruiting centre

Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber has blown himself up at a military recruiting centre in Baghdad, killing at least 12 people.

A police official says the attacker struck on Thursday morning, and that at least 25 people have been injured in the blast.

A hospital official confirmed the casualty numbers. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suicide attacks are the hallmark of al-Qaeda’s Iraq branch.

Its fighters last week overran parts of two key cities west of Baghdad Fallujah and Ramadi and have been clashing with Iraqi forces trying to drive them out.

The attack on the recruiting centre could be a retaliation for the military’s offensive.