A suicide bomb attack has ripped through the centre of Irbil. At least five people were killed in the blast when the car packed with explosives blew up.

It’s believed the driver of the car tried to enter the government compound in the centre of the city which is the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region. An eye witness told Kurdish television two policemen and two civilians had been killed. It’s reported gunfire accompanied the explosion.

The last major attack in Irbil was more than one year ago and the oil city has a reputation as a safe base for foreigners.

Iraqi officials say their security forces have reached the Baiji oil refinery after driving out militant jihadist fighters from ISIL from the region.

The refinery which is Iraq’s largest had been besieged for five months but it is understood forces re-took it on Tuesday. Triumphant Iraqi soldiers were seen celebrating on state TV.

And the government has announced its army has secured the main road between Baghdad and Baiji which had been in control of ISIL.