Kurdistan Region's markets fires were deliberate, says Iraqi Interior Ministry
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - The spokesperson for the Iraqi Interior Ministry, Brigadier General Miqdad Miri, confirmed that recent fires in the markets of the Kurdistan Region were deliberate acts perpetrated by elements of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
This announcement came during a joint press conference on Monday with Hemin Mirani, the Director General of Diwan at the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Interior.
The officials revealed the circumstances behind the fires that targeted several vital markets in the region, detailing the objectives and the individuals involved.
Brigadier General Miri explained that "those involved spread a paste of flammable materials hours after placing it in certain locations, which later ignited, causing fires that consumed everything around them."
He added, "The fires in vital markets and the targeting of interests indicated that they were deliberate acts orchestrated by a dangerous network. A working group was formed from the Federal Intelligence Agency, supervised by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the Minister of Interior."
In the press conference broadcast by Kurdistan 24, Miri stated, "The arrest of those involved was a significant operation, with careful follow-up, exceptional efforts, and coordination between the Federal Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Interior in the region. The individuals arrested belong to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)."
He further noted that the working team uncovered the details of the crime and, through a special operation, arrested those involved, recording their confessions. "Chemical materials used to burn markets and malls were seized in their possession," he said.
According to the confessions, the perpetrators were planning to target two neighboring countries of Iraq and the Ceyhan oil transportation line. They also intended to target markets in Sadr City, Shorja, and other areas, as well as electricity transmission lines in Erbil.