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Iraq arrests three for involvement in Speicher massacre

Amr Al Housni

May. 09, 2024 • 2 min read
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The Iraqi National Intelligence Service apprehended three suspects linked to the 2014 Speicher massacre.

The Iraqi National Intelligence Service on Thursday arrested three suspects with outstanding judicial warrants for their involvement in the Speicher massacre.

“In a coordinated operation aided by intensive intelligence efforts beyond Iraqi borders, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service successfully retrieved three terrorists with outstanding judicial arrest warrants for their involvement in the Speicher massacre and the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians,” read a statement published by the Iraqi Security Media Cell.

The operation, overseen by the Joint Operations Command, signifies a relentless pursuit of justice for the victims.

“The pure blood of the Iraqis will continue to haunt the terrorists until they are brought to justice,” added the statement. “Our security forces and intelligence agencies will not rest until every criminal who committed heinous crimes against the innocent is reached.”

“The recovery comes as a solemn reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorism in the region, with Iraqi authorities reaffirming their commitment to pursuing perpetrators of violence and ensuring accountability for their actions,” the statement concluded.

On June 12, Iraqis will commemorate the tenth commemoration of the Speicher massacre committed by the ISIS against innocent civilians during its invasion of Salahadin province, a day after taking over Mosul in 2014.

The United Nations described it as a genocide crime where ISIS carried out a heinous massacre on June 12, 2014, known as the tragedy of the era, claiming the lives of nearly 2,000 unarmed students at the Air Force College in Tikrit, north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, formerly known as Camp Speicher.

This massacre has become a symbol of the brutality of the terror organization, as they abducted unarmed students from the Air Force College to the presidential palaces overlooking the Tigris River and committed an atrocious crime by shooting them and throwing the victims' bodies into the Tigris River.

The international community at the time condemned the crime and formed a Global Coalition to confront ISIS.

Profile picture of Amr Al Housni
Author Amr Al Housni

Amr Al Housni is a Syrian news reporter based in Erbil, specializing in coverage of local and international events.

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