Militants stormed two energy facilities in northern Iraq on Sunday, shooting at least four workers and detonating explosives that sent flames into the sky, security sources said, Reuters reported.
The first attack, on the AB2 gas compressor station, about 15 km (10 miles) northwest of Kirkuk, started around 0300 (8 pm ET) when four gunmen with hand grenades broke through the external door, leaving two guards in critical condition.
They then shot dead four employees in a control room inside and planted explosives charges, around five of which went off, the sources said.
Forces from the elite counter-terrorism service stormed the facility, regained control and freed 15 other employees who had hidden in a separate room.
The attackers could not be found and may have escaped to launch a second attack on the Bai Hassan oil station, 25 km further northwest, the sources said.
