IS attack on Iraq police trainees kills 12: Officials

Tikrit, Iraq - The Islamic State group killed at least 12 members of the Iraqi security forces Sunday when several suicide attackers infiltrated a base near Tikrit, security officials said.

The target was a police force from Nineveh, the northern province of which Mosul is the capital, that was undergoing training at the Speicher military base.

"Under the cover of fog, they broke into Speicher," said Mahmud al-Sorchi, spokesman for the paramilitary force being set up to take back IS-held Nineveh.

"Nineveh police managed to kill seven attackers but three were able to detonate their suicide vests," he said, adding that three officers were among the 12 policemen killed.

He also said 20 policemen were wounded in the attack, which took place in the middle of the night.

Several other security sources in the region confirmed the attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.

The jihadist organisation said seven suicide attackers managed to enter the huge military base, which lies about 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad.

In a statement posted online, IS said its commando reached a centre where 1,200 cadets were being trained, sparking clashes that lasted four hours.