Iraqi 'death squad', not IS, responsible for Basra motorcycle bombing, says official
Iraqi 'death squad', not IS, responsible for Basra motorcycle bombing, says official
An ongoing investigation suggests IS was not behind the deadly blast which killed four civilians in Basra last week, as originally suspected.
2 min read
A car in the aftermath of the Basra blast which killed four [Getty]
A prominent Iraqi security officialÌýsaid that aÌýmotorcycle bombing in the city of Basra last week was the work of an unnamedÌý"death squad" and not the Islamic State group, as was previously suspected.
The security official, who chose to remain anonymous, informed Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the intended target of the attack - which left four civilians dead - was an intelligence officer in the ministry of interior.
The targeted official had been investigating the assassinations of civilian activists and journalists by armed militias during protests in Basra that took place in October 2019.
While ISÌýhad not claimed responsibility for the attack, Basra Governor Asaad Al-Edani told reporters on Tuesday that "the blast carries fingerprints of Daesh (Islamic State)".
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed has now learnedÌýthat anÌýinvestigation into the deadly bombing had obtained "important information" that ruled out IS' involvement.
The anonymous security officialÌýsaid the attack was carried out by a remote-controlled explosive device whose detonation was mistimed, killing civilian bystanders.
Nearby CCTV footage had assisted investigators in establishing theÌýtrue perpetrators.
Iraqi Prime Minister, , who visited Basra in the aftermath of last week's attack, ordered a thorough investigation to find the perpetrators.
He told security leaders in the city that he would not be "dragged into confrontation" but that those responsible will be "dragged… to justice by law" and "a just punishment awaits them".
"The crime of killing our officers amounts to treason and betrayal, and the killing of our youth in cold blood is one of a series of crimes that are known to all," he added.Ìý
"Just as we arrested the killers of , Ahmed Abdelsamad and Safaa Ghali, we will bring these criminals,Ìýone by one,Ìýin front of the judiciary and the people to expose their crimes."
The leader of the Sadrist movement, , described the attack as a "political explosion" in a statement on Twitter.
The Shia clericÌýstressed the need to "disband militias which abuse weapons under the banner of resistance or any other pretext".Ìý
The only solution to the current crisis is a "national majority government" he added, referring to elections earlier this year, which haveÌýbeen disputed by pro-Iran parties and militias. Sadr's party won the most seats in the vote.
Naeem Aboudi, leader of rival Shia political party and paramilitary group "League of the Righteousness", sought to distinguish between criminal groups and armed militias.
"You cannot equate a death squad with factions which carry arms to defend this country," he claimed in a televised statement.
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