Iraqi security forces have caught an alleged member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in association with a recent bombing in Kirkuk. Arshad al-Salihi, Iraq’s Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, said that National Security Service forces carried out the detention of the suspect, who allegedly bombarded Saygin Haji Oglu, the head of the Turkmen House organization in Kirkuk.

“We hope this terrorist will not be released, as has happened with others who have destroyed our cultural heritage,”

al-Salihi said.

Earlier, Iraq’s National Security Service reported that, after extensive surveillance, it had arrested the primary suspect responsible for bombing a commercial property in Kirkuk. The incident, which happened six days prior, involved an improvised explosive device (IED) positioned near a local store. The explosion damaged the store owner and his wife.

According to an official statement, the investigation indicated that

“the suspect had constantly surveilled the target site, where he covered the IED inside a bag and detonated remotely via a mobile phone.“

The statement also precise,

“He fled Iraq for five days before being lured back to al-Sulaymaniyah, where he was eventually detained.”

The National Security Service verified it had secured judicial authorization for the detention under Article 4 of Iraq’s Anti-Terrorism Law. 

Moreover, Iraq’s Baghdad Operations Command reported the arrest of three suspects found in custody of weapons in Baghdad.

A statement from the command commented,

“As part of the continuing security efforts by our forces to enforce arrest warrants and track down those wanted by the judiciary, a Federal Police force from the Fifth Division has operated to arrest three suspects during a search and the setup of surprise checkpoints. The suspects were found in control of two rocket launchers, four mortar shells, two rocket-propelled grenades, and 154 rounds of MK9 ammunition, in the al-Shishan area, east of the capital [Baghdad].”