Iraqi police in Fallujah thwarted a large-scale al-Qaeda attack on Friday (June 29th) targeting civilians, officials said.

"The police thwarted attacks involving three car bombs and an improvised explosive device (IED) placed in areas near mosques and public markets and designed to kill the largest possible number of people," said Anbar police spokesperson Col. Rahim Zaban.

"Security forces managed to dismantle a car bomb" as well as an IED, Zaban said. The other two car bombs exploded after security forces imposed a curfew and evacuated nearby houses.

The police arrested seven suspects based on fingerprints found on the dismantled car bomb, he said.