Investigation continues into armed attack on Kurdistan Democratic Party HQ in Kirkuk
Mohammed Kamal, the branch official, disclosed that he had prior knowledge of an imminent armed attack on the Kirkuk branch, describing the incident as a "terrorist act."
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The investigation into the armed attack on the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) third branch in Kirkuk remains ongoing, with the identities of the attackers still unknown.
Mohammed Kamal, the branch official, disclosed that he had prior knowledge of an imminent armed attack on the Kirkuk branch, describing the incident as a "terrorist act."
Kamal told Kurdistan 24, “At around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, the attackers, who were hiding in an unfinished building and inside a cemetery, opened fire on the headquarters' guard post.”
He added, “Because we had information about the possibility of an armed attack, we put all the security forces of the Third Branch on alert, which succeeded in thwarting the attack.”
Three days prior, Kamal had warned the acting director of Kirkuk police about the potential attack, leading to the deployment of a tactical force to bolster the branch's security.
Kamal stated, “I requested all surveillance camera recordings from the area surrounding the branch headquarters to determine where the attackers infiltrated and which party they belong to.”
Emphasizing the significance of the KDP, Kamal stressed, “The Kurdistan Democratic Party carries the message of Kurdishness and defends the sanctity and Kurdishness of Kirkuk. This attack aims to create chaos and confusion, coinciding with the ongoing negotiations regarding the position of Kirkuk governor.”
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What Happened?
The headquarters of the third branch of the KDP in Kirkuk Governorate was targeted by gunfire early on Saturday morning, with no casualties reported.
The branch official, Mohammad Kamal, said that around 3:00 a.m., gunmen with sniper weapons attacked the party headquarters from two different directions before security personnel engaged them.
Read More: KDP’s Political Branch III in Kirkuk, went under attack by snipers
In a call with Kurdistan 24, Kamal confirmed that the attackers aimed to target the guard post and then infiltrate the headquarters to commit terrorist acts. He stressed that the attack did not result in any injuries but highlighted that such incidents are "a bad development and require a comprehensive investigation as soon as possible."
The KDP headquarters in Kirkuk has faced previous threats, but this recent coordinated attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region. The party's officials have called for increased vigilance and security measures to prevent future attacks and protect the party's assets and personnel.
