Sunni militants attack Iraq's largest oil refinery in Baiji

The attack started on Wednesday morning from outside the sprawling facility

Update: 2014-06-18 13:36 GMT
In this June 14, 2014, photo, Iraqi men board a military truck to join the Iraqi army at the main recruiting center in Baghdad, Iraq, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents. U.S. spy agencies are scrambling to close intelligence
Baghdad: Sunni militants attacked Iraq's largest oil refinery, located in Baiji in northern Iraq, with machine gun fire and mortars on Wednesday, Iraqi security sources and refinery employees said.
 
The attack started at 4am (0100 GMT) from outside two of the three main entrances to the sprawling facility, the sources said. 
 
One mortar hit a spare-parts warehouse and smoke billowed from the building, the sources said. On Tuesday, foreigners were evacuated from the refinery as security forces braced for an attack on the compound. 
 
The refinery has been under siege since Sunni militants began a major military offense in northern Iraq last week. 
 
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