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Police recruits killed in Iraq suicide blast

Tikrit - Emergency services attend the scene
Tikrit - Emergency services attend the scene

A suicide bomber has killed at least 50 people and wounded over 100 at a crowded police recruitment centre in the Iraqi city of Tikrit.

The attack occurred at around 10.15am in the centre of the city, 160km north of Baghdad, a police officer and an official in the Salaheddin Operations Command said.

'A suicide attacker blew himself up at a police recruitment centre in the middle of Tikrit this morning,' the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The death toll was the highest from a single attack since al-Qaeda insurgents stormed a Baghdad church.

The ensuing siege led to the deaths of 44 worshippers, two priests and seven security force members.

Insurgents have also targeted security recruitment centres in the past.

A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded army recruitment centre in Baghdad on 17 August, killing 59 people and leaving 100 others wounded.