The Iraqi government has formally accused elements within the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of orchestrating fires in the provinces of Erbil, Duhok, and Kirkuk.
Additionally, the PKK is alleged to be planning terrorist operations in various areas and markets in the capital, Baghdad.
Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesperson, Brigadier General Muqdad Miri, announced in a joint press conference with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Interior Ministry that individuals involved in the recent fires were apprehended.
These operations were the result of meticulous coordination between federal and regional authorities. The detainees, identified as members of the PKK, are currently in custody and under investigation by the Federal Intelligence Agency.
According to Miri, three individuals were arrested in connection with the fires. Two suspects were detained in Kirkuk and another in Diyala. These arrests followed the establishment of a special task force by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani and Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari to uncover the truth behind the incidents.
The fires were reportedly set using a method that made detection difficult, involving a delayed ignition substance hidden in candy boxes, resulting in millions of dollars in damage.
The investigative team discovered chemical materials used to ignite markets and shopping malls in the possession of the suspects.
The PKK operatives reportedly confessed to planning attacks on neighboring countries and targeting vital infrastructure, including the Ceyhan oil pipeline.
They also intended to target markets in Baghdad’s Sadr City and Shorja, as well as power lines in Erbil.
Director General of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Interior Ministry, Haiman Mirani, provided further details on the arson incidents in Erbil, Kirkuk, and Duhok.
Mirani stated that the PKK aimed to disrupt the local economy and incite public anger against the government. The operatives responsible for the fires were reportedly trained by the PKK in Syria and Turkey.
Shakhwan Saeed Saleh, spokesperson for the Erbil Civil Defense, reported that there were 928 fires in Erbil over the past six months.
Many affected locations lacked fire and civil defense systems. Saleh noted that some fires resulted from negligence, and comprehensive reports would be submitted to relevant authorities to enforce stricter safety regulations.
Turkey designates the PKK as a terrorist organization, while Iraq considers it a banned party. This marks the first time the PKK has been accused of arson and plotting attacks within Baghdad, especially in densely populated areas like Sadr City and the bustling commercial district of Shorja.
These developments suggest the PKK is adopting new tactics aimed at destabilizing the Iraqi government.
