BAGHDAD, (AP) – Iraqi officials say attackers set off two car bombs outside a government compound east of Baghdad, then stormed it and took hostages.

A spokeswoman for the Diyala provincial council, Samira al-Shibli, says the car bombs went off Tuesday morning outside the government compound in Baqouba. The gunmen then stormed into the provincial council headquarters.

Al-Shibli, who is at the governor’s office on the same compound, said shooting could be heard.

An official in the Diyala Operations Command who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the gunmen had taken hostages inside the building.

Baqouba, is 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad.