The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday the arrest of several individuals involved in targeting a series of “KFC” restaurants, the Cambridge Institute, and the office of the American company Caterpillar in Baghdad last week, and their referral to the Iraqi judiciary.
In a press statement today, the Ministry of Interior stated that security forces carried out a qualitative operation during which several suspects were apprehended, who confessed during interrogation to collaborating with a group of fugitives in acts of sabotage. Judicial arrest warrants were issued against other suspects, and the remaining wanted individuals will be pursued by the Ministry of Interior and other security agencies.
The statement clarified that, “After gathering accurate information, the names of the perpetrators, their workplaces, and residences were identified, and the matter was presented to the investigating judge who issued arrest warrants against the perpetrators according to the provisions of the counter-terrorism law.”
The statement also indicated that “some of them belong to a security apparatus, and they carried out their actions under the pretext of harming American interests, where they were detained in order to be referred to the competent courts.”
According to the statement, “Acts of sabotage and the throwing of locally made bombs occurred last week in Baghdad, targeting both KFC restaurant and Jelly House restaurant, as well as the Cambridge Institute in the Palestine Street area, and KFC restaurant and Caterpillar company in the Karada Jadriya area, by individuals riding seven-wheeled vehicles and a motorcycle.”
It was further noted that “intelligence and technical teams have been formed to follow up on the matter in order to identify the perpetrators who are violating the law.”
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.
