Pat Dollard

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BAGHDAD (AP) – A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a high school in Iraq’s violent Diyala province Tuesday, wounding 21 people, police said.

Students, teachers, bystanders and at least one policeman were among the wounded in the 8:30 a.m. attack in the provincial capital, Baqouba, according to a police officer.

The bomber’s target was unclear. The school is next to the provincial governor’s office and a municipal building.

The U.S. military has been battling al-Qaida militants in Diyala, which has defied the nationwide trend toward lower violence over the past six months. Baqouba is 35 miles northeast of Baghdad.

Iraq Media:

Diala, Jan 22, (VOI) – Casualties from Tuesday morning’s suicide bombing that targeted a school in central Baaquba rose to one death and 21 wounded, the Diala police chief said.

“A suicide bomber with an explosive belt blew himself up near al-Jawahri preparatory school for boys in central Baaquba, killing one student and injuring 21 others,” Maj. General Ghanim al-Qurayshi told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Earlier, Qurayshi said one student was killed and 15 others wounded in the attack.

Baaquba, the capital of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad.