A Kurdish intelligence officer confirmed that four suicide bombers had attacked the main police headquarters in the city at around 3:00 am (00:00 UTC Thursday). Gunmen wearing suicide vests targeted the main police headquarters as well as checkpoints and patrols on Friday, security officials said.Witnesses told The Associated Press (AP) that multiple explosions rocked the Kurdish controlled city and that gunfire could be heard throughout the city.
Residents also reported seeing dozens of armed jihadists in the streets several hours into the attack. In an online statement, IS claimed responsibility for several attacks in and around the northern Iraqi city on Friday.