Police arrest lead suspects in shooting in Kurdistan's Erbil

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Erbil Police Directorate on Saturday announced the arrest of two individuals involved in a shooting that took place on the 100-meter street late Friday night.

“A team was formed in each of Erbil's eastern police stations and the emergency police department, and in less than 10 hours, two of the main suspects who had caused the shooting last night were arrested,” the police said in a statement.

Security sources told Kurdistan 24 earlier that an armed exchange took place near the Rizgari General Hospital on 100-meter street in Erbil. More than two persons appear to have been involved in the shootout.

The security forces seized the vehicles of the suspects along with the weapons they used.

According to witnesses, exchanges of fire between the two sides continued for 10 to 15 minutes. After bullets ran out, they fought with sharp tools, wounding three people.

The police did not specify the cause of the confrontation.

The statement also quoted Erbil Police Director, Brigadier-General Dler Najar, as saying that “the police is at the service of citizens day and night to preserve peace in the capital, Erbil, and prevent anyone from sabotaging this peace.”

"We are fully prepared to protect citizens, and their property," Najar added, saying that they had launched an investigation according to Article 413 of the Penal Code.

Editing by Khrush Najari