(KUNA) -- Nine Iraqi civilians were killed Friday and several houses were destroyed when 15 mortar shells were launched at Balad district, northern Baghdad, an Iraqi police source said. The source told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the attack was launched by unknown militants, adding that they shelled two villages and now had control over the police station between Balad and Thulouiya. The extent of damage was unknown, the source said.Local authorities at Saladdin Province had declared a number of measures aimed at defusing tensions in light of sectarian violence in Balad over the last few days. Saladdin Governor Hamad Al-Shathki said in a statement to reporters that a committee had been formed to compensate victims, while calling on all Iraqis to remain united in the face of those who sought to instigate a sectarian strife.