Police foil attempt targeting of transport official

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi security forces have foiled an assassination attempt targeting a senior under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Transport, according to a ministerial statement released on Sunday. “Today, an under-secretary of state in the ministry, Bankeen Rikani, survived an attempt on his life when an improvised explosive device (IED) was stuck to his vehicle,” read the statement that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Security forces have managed to defuse the device without causing any casualties or damage,” the statement noted. “Terrorists had planted the device before the official headed to his work in the ministry,” the statement added. SS (P)/SR 1