BAGHDAD — An Iraqi official says a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into police patrolling a city north of the Iraqi capital, killing two police.

Shalal Abdool, mayor of Tuz Khormato, says four police and 15 civilians were also wounded in the Thursday attack, 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Baghdad.

Iraq has been experiencing one of its deadliest waves of violence in recent years, raising fears that the country is heading toward a new round of sectarian conflict like that which pushed it to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

The attack comes a day after suicide attacks, bombings and shootings killed at least 17 people across the country.