ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - At least four people have been arrested over a deadly shootout which killed two law enforcement personnel in southern Baghdad, the Iraqi interior ministry told state media on Friday.

Clashes erupted on Thursday in Baghdad’s Dora neighborhood between a group of armed men and a team of security forces tasked with removing illegal housing structures in the area, leaving two police officers killed and wounding four.

“Security forces exerted a great effort that resulted in the arrest of four individuals, while investigations are underway and others are being pursued,” Miqdad Miri, the interior ministry’s head of media and public relations, told state media, adding that arrest warrants have been issued by the judiciary against a number of suspects.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Thursday condemned the “heinous attacks on security and service institutions,” vowing to “pursue all those involved in this criminal act” and bring them to justice.

“Legal measures will be taken against all those who violated the law in those areas, whether they contributed to the illegal sale of goods or other encroachments,” Miri added.

It is unclear whether the perpetrators belong to organized armed groups or are independent shooters. However, Dora is known to have high activity of armed groups, with separate shooting incidents having taken place in the past.

The spokesperson noted that no heavy weaponry were used in the clashes, stressing that investigations into the case will continue.

Many suburbs of the Iraqi capital feature widespread informal settlements that were built without correct planning permission, with the federal government having engaged in efforts to regularize the status of such dwellings and improve services for residents.

“Any location where violations occur will be subject to the necessary measures taken by the Baghdad Municipality and the Ministry of Interior,” Miri emphasized.

The Iraqi parliament on Thursday recommended the formation of an investigative committee to examine the details of the incident, adding that the body would be obligated to provide the legislature with its final report, including “the results of the investigation, recommendations, and identification of those responsible.”