03 September, 2017
Reportedly the attackers were armed with grenades and wearing explosives belts when they entered the facility in Samarra, about 100km north of the capital. Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said two attackers disguised themselves as workers and a third wore a security forces uniform. "According to preliminary data seven people died, another 12 people were injured", - said the Iraqi official on condition of anonymity.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
He recalled running with colleagues away from the shooting.
There were four suicide bombers at the energy station where one was killed before the others snuck into the fuel tank and processing unit area where they blew themselves up, the Electricity Ministry stated. "Some of us hid while two others kept running towards the exit, shouting "we are employees", but they (the attackers) shot them dead", he said. Prefabricated houses where employees were sleeping were destroyed as explosions rang out in the power plant, an AFP reporter said.
The police official said security reinforcements evacuated the employees. This week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over the radical group in Tal Afar, west of Mosul. The new wave of violence erupted in Iraq after the 2014 offensive of Daesh, which seized large territories in northern and western parts of the country.
