Two suicide bombers have attacked a police compound in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing a commander, police say.
The attackers set off their devices in the room of Lt Col Shamil Ahmed Oglaq, who headed the battalion.
A third suicide bomber was killed by police before he could enter the building.
Military commanders say Mosul is the last major urban stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
A police source told Reuters news agency that the commander "was known to be active in pursuing al-Qaeda members in Mosul, and for this reason he was targeted".
He survived an attempt on his life last year, the source said.
Although the overall level of violence has fallen in Iraq in recent years, bombings and attacks remain common.
On Monday two suicide bombers killed at least 14 people in the town of Ramadi, Anbar province.
