Officials: Bombs kill 21 in Iraq’s western Anbar province

Bombs kill 21 in Iraq’s western Anbar province

BAGHDAD — Iraqi police officials say most of the 21 people killed in a pair of bombings in western Iraq were policemen.

Lt. Col. Imad al-Fahdawi said the deputy provincial commander was among the 13 policemen killed by Wednesday’s blasts in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad. Another police official says the provincial police commander was wounded.

The police official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Al-Fahdawi said many of the policemen were killed by a car bomb at a checkpoint near the local provincial government headquarters. Others died after a suicide bomber detonated his vest as they rushed to respond to the initial explosion.