Attacks mainly targeting security in Baghdad, including two suicide car bombs minutes apart against police stations, killed 23 people yesterday, the Iraqi capital’s deadliest day in more than a month.

The violence, in which more than 70 people were wounded, showed insurgents’ ability to plan and carry out coordinated attacks on well-secured targets, as Iraq weighs its options over a post-2011 American military training mission.

Two suicide attackers detonated their explosives-packed vehicles at police stations in Hurriyah in north Baghdad, and Alwiyah in the centre, at about 8.30 a.m. (0530 GMT), killing at least 18, interior and defence ministry officials said.

“I saw the bomber trying to pass the barriers, but he blew up his vehicle. The concrete T-walls collapsed and I fell on the ground,” said Ali, a policeman at the Alwiyah station who only gave his first name.

He said he was not injured thanks to the walls, but that his colleagues who had been standing at the gate of the station had been torn apart.

Human remains and shrapnel from the bomb were scattered for about 100 metres and security forces cordoned off the scene, an AFP correspondent said.