Police officials said today that the attack happened late yesterday when the suicide attacker drove his bomb-laden truck into the convoy of police Lt Gen Faisal Malik, who was inspecting troops in the town of Beiji.
Police and hospital officials say the attack killed Faisal and seven police officers, while wounding 15 people. No one immediately claimed the attack, which comes as Iraqi forces backed by US-led airstrikes battle the Islamic State group, which now holds a third of the country.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.