Attacks On Two Energy Plants In Northern Iraq Kill Five

Islamic State (IS) militants have stormed a gas facility and an nearby oil field in northern Iraq, killing at least five people in rare attacks inside the Kurdish-controlled areas of Kirkuk Province, officials say.

The first attack took place on the AB2 gas-compressor station, about 15 kilometers northwest of Kirkuk, when four gunmen with hand grenades broke through.

They shot dead four employees, and injured two guards, after which they planted multiple bombs.

Security forces believe the attackers then escaped to the Bai Hassan oil station, 25 kilometers further northwest, where they launched a similar attack, destroying an oil-storage tank, the largest in the oil-rich province.

An engineer was killed in the attack and seven others were injured.

According to the police, three of the bombers were killed while the fourth is still at large.

IS's Amaq news agency reported that their fighters had stormed the Bai Hassan facility but did not mention the previous attack.

Forces from Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region control part of Kirkuk, while part of the province is under IS control.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP