Eyewitness: Kirkuk devastation

By Stephen Sackur BBC correspondent in Kiruk

The blast targeted policemen who were changing shifts at the station

A massive blast rocked Kirkuk at 0800 local time, when a car approached the Rahimawa police station and exploded outside the front gates.

It was a scene of devastation. Body parts were everywhere and at least half a dozen vehicles were entirely wrecked.

The exact number of casualties is unclear but is expected to be high - many policemen were at the gates changing shifts at the time.

This bears all the hallmarks of recent attacks on Iraqi security forces.

Inadequate protection

They were calling the attackers terrorists down at the scene.

Whatever you call them, they are clearly people intent on destabilising Iraq and undermining the American effort alongside Iraqi security forces to introduce some sort of new order to this country.

US forces have been at the scene, cordoning off the area.

But no Americans were patrolling at this police station when the bomb went off.

This has been a clear attack on the newly-formed Iraqi police force.

Indeed, local police said they had been expecting some sort of attack.

There had been warnings that the station would be targeted and there was some protection, but clearly it was inadequate - the bomber was able to drive right up to the gates.

Volatile mix

The local police chief said there were a number of policemen at the entrance, he thought 20 or so.

It would have been very difficult for those policemen to survive.

The police chief said this town will stay united.

But there are complications in Kirkuk - it is a mixed town of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen and clearly this attack is going to do nothing for the stability of the city.

It is a place that has seen instability in the past and where many people believe there is a dangerous possibility of instability in the future as well.