Kurdistan Security Council: 'Mastermind of Kirkuk terror attack arrested'
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) on Sunday announced the arrest of eight Islamic State (IS) extremists by Kirkuk and Erbil security (Asayish) forces in Kirkuk.
In a statement, the KRSC revealed that Erbil and Kirkuk Asayish forces arrested eight IS extremists related to the terror attack in Kirkuk, including the mastermind of the assault.
The statement added that “the supervisor and mastermind of the terror attack was Mazin Nazhan al-Obeidi who was arrested by people and handed over to the security forces.”
“The terrorists took advantage of a security gap between Daquq and Bashir, transferring over 100 extremists in groups from Hawija via four small trucks, and a truck to Kirkuk,” the statement read.
The arrested IS members who participated in the Kirkuk attacks are:
- Akram Taha Idan Ahmed Dulaimi, known as Abu Mustafa. He was the emir (leader) of IS activities in Kirkuk Province.
- Abdulrahman Fazil Abdulrahman al-Azzi, known as Abu Mohammed. He was responsible for IS’ administration and finance in Kirkuk.
- Abdulaziz Mahmoud Idan Dulaimi, known as Azawi. He was responsible for observing the attack before it launched.
- Abdulrahim Ahmed Abdulla Yassin, known as Abu Ali. He was in charge of the administrative help of IS members before they entered Kirkuk.
- Layis Falah Ni’ma Ahmed al-Jabouri, known as Abu Ghasan. He participated in the attack, and he is a member of the Inghamsi brigade.
- Abdulrahman Fazil Abbas Mohammad al-Obeidi, known as Abu Yahya. He helped transfer IS suicide bombers to Dubiz district, northwestern Kirkuk.
- Ali Hussein Hama Ibrahim al-Jabouri. He was in charge of providing accommodation to the IS members and transferring them to different places.
- Muhanad Ibrahim Ali Dulaimi, known as Abu Layis. He participated in the attack and took the IS members via truck to an area near Kirkuk.
Previously, a security source told Kurdistan24 the extremists took advantage of a security gap between Peshmerga and Iraqi Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi in Daquq and Bashir areas, southern Kirkuk.
On Oct. 21, IS attacked Kirkuk with a large number of militants and temporarily took control of some buildings in the province.
According to Kirkuk security, 99 people were ‘martyred’ and 230 injured.
The number of militants was over 100, and 63 dead bodies remain in Kirkuk while the others were arrested.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
(Additional reporting by Mewan Dolamari)
