The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday the arrest of a “new group” of individuals accused of carrying out attacks targeting restaurants and foreign agencies in Baghdad.
In a statement published on its official website, the Ministry of Interior stated that its security apparatuses have managed to “arrest a new group of suspects involved in incidents of attacks and sabotage targeting several restaurants and foreign agencies in various areas of the capital Baghdad over the past few days.”
The statement added that the competent authorities in the Ministry of Interior have initiated necessary legal procedures against those apprehended to complete their investigative files.
The statement further noted, “The investigating judge decided to detain the suspects in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law,” indicating that the security agencies continue to “pursue the remaining elements involved in this illegal act.”
On Tuesday, Iraqi authorities announced the arrest of individuals who attacked restaurants and commercial centers in the capital Baghdad, including individuals “affiliated with one of the security agencies.”
Eyewitnesses informed the German news agency (dpa) that the Iraqi authorities deployed large numbers of security forces and counter-terrorism units in the streets of the Palestine Street and Karada areas, anticipating renewed attacks by armed groups on the KFC fast-food restaurant chain.
In May, an explosion targeted a fast food restaurant on a major street in eastern Baghdad, without causing any injuries.
Over the past two years, the security situation in Baghdad has been marked by significant political instability and sporadic violence. The ongoing political crises have largely stemmed from the fractured political landscape post-2003 invasion, which dismantled the Iraqi security apparatus and led to a prolonged period of rebuilding and reform with varying degrees of success and failure.
