ISTANBUL

One police officer was killed and several others were injured in a suicide bombing late Wednesday in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo, state media reported.

The attack targeted a police patrol in the Bab al-Faraj area, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said.

State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV, citing a security source, said the attacker blew himself up while being searched after raising suspicion.

Aleppo Governor Azam al-Gharib said the incident took place while internal security forces were carrying out duties to secure New Year’s celebrations in the city, the channel reported.

According to al-Gharib, security personnel identified a suspected militant and moved to arrest him. During the operation, one officer managed to restrain the suspect physically, at which point the attacker detonated an explosives belt.