The militants of so-called Islamic State ISIS were planning to attack security services and agencies in Kirkuk by five suicide bombers during Ramadan, one of them killed today, another arrested and the hunt for the three othersare ongoing, a commander of National security in Kirkuk said.
A suicide bomber was shot dead by security forces in Kirkuk on Thursday, at 8.45, when a militant wearing explosive belt trying to enter National Security Agency office in Kirkuk.
“We had information about both suicide bombers so we could fail their attempts,” the commander of national security told KirkukNow. “According to our information, Daesh has sent three other suicide bombers to attack and detonate themselves and we are tracking them.”
The suicide bomber, whose body was identified, is originally from a village at the suburbs of Kirkuk and has jointed Daesh several years ago, follow up by security forces has shown.
“He was wearing a Dishdasha, Arabic traditional male uniform, and was carrying a Kalashnikov rifle trying to climb the low wall from the back of the office but we stopped him and shot him” the anonymous source added.
ISIS militants were planning to attack security services and agencies in Kirkuk by five suicide bombers
Kirkuk National Security agency is located between chamber of commerce and festival park downtown. Detainees for charges of terrorism and human body organ trafficking are imprisoned there.
As ISIS sleeper-cells are regrouping and targeting Iraqi forces and civilians in the rural areas in Kirkuk, Diyalah and Mosul, Iraqi forces are carrying out wide range, long-term operations to eleminate thier hideouts.
The oil rich-city of Kirkuk is home to about 1.2 million Kurds, Turkmen and Arabs, according to KRG figures in 2018. Kirkuk, located 238 kilometers north of Baghdad, is the center of the disputed territories where Iraqi security forces have taken control in October 2017 following the declaration of defeat of ISIS by Iraqi government.
The second suicide bomber planning to rock a security facility was arrested in a security checkpoint south of Kirkuk, he added.
AS precaution procedure, extra security forces were deployed downtown of Kirkuk and Kirkuk intelligence service temporarily shut its gates.
Kirkuk April 29, 2021- The site of shooting a suicide bomber targeted National security office. Photo by KirkukNow.
The source said that the other their suicide bombers might change their plans. “We believe it is in retaliation for capture of seven militants and seniors of Daesh downtown and the suburbs and reveal of their plans and sleeper-cells.”
“We believe it is in retaliation for capture of seven militants and seniors of Daesh downtown and the suburbs and reveal of their plans and sleeper-cells.”
As per follow up by KirkukNow, tens of suspects facing charges of affiliation with ISIS were arrested in April. On April 6, two senior members of ISIS were arrested in Hawija Arab dominant district, 45 km west of Kirkuk.
On April 5th, a letter was revealed sent out by Kirkuk Joint Operation Command to the security forces stating that based on intelligence reports,14 members of Daesh infiltrated into Kirkuk through a truck carrying concrete blocs to bomb then target detention prison in Kirkuk and house of Justice by suicide bombers.
Security commander s anonymously confirmed the letter for KirkukNow.
“Our troops are deployed in the security agencies and court as we have information that three suicide bombers are in town and the search process is ongoing,” the national security commander added.
Following the military defeat of ISIS, discord over security arrangements, public services, and the lack of a unified administration in the disputed territories, have plagued victims and survivors.
Currently, Kirkuk is under control of Baghdad with local police downtown while Iraqi army and pro-Shiite militia Popular Mobilization Forces PMF known as Hashid aal-Sha’abi deployed at the outskirts.
The disputed territories extend from Khanaqin in the east on the border with Iran to the oil rich city of Kirkuk heading to the west in Mosul where Shingal home to Ezidi ethno-religious minority live on the border with Syria.
Iraqi counter terrorism service CTS said the operation Lion-Prepared last March resulted in murder of 29 ISIS fighters, and many others were dumped under rocks of Qarachough mountain of Makhmour district, located about 60 kilometers southwest of Erbil yet under control of Iraqi federal government.
Over 300 air strikes were carried out by the Iraqi and international coalition jets, destructing 120 hideout and caves as backup for the land operation by Iraqi security forces and the Peshmerga, Kurdish fighters.
