Iraq PM sacks Baghdad security officials

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has dismissed a number of high-ranking officials responsible for security in the capital, including the head of the Baghdad Operations Command.

A statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday said three top officials in charge of Baghdad's security were dismissed after a bombing over the weekend killed nearly 300 people.

The statement said Abadi had fired the commander of military operations, security services and intelligence in the capital.

The bombing in Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood on Sunday was the deadliest in Iraq since US invasion of the country 13 years ago. It caused outrage at the inadequacy of emergency services and the security apparatus.

On Thursday, at least 37 civilians lost their lives and 62 others were injured when Daesh terrorists carried out a bombing and shooting attack near a holy mausoleum north of the Iraqi capital.

A terrorist blew himself up at the external gate of the mausoleum of Sayyid Muhammad bin Imam Ali al-Hadi (PBUH) last on Thursday in the city of Balad north of Baghdad. Terrorists then stormed the site and started shooting at pilgrims.

Another bomber detonated his explosives in the middle of the crowd, who were celebrating the end of the fasting month of Ramadan but security forces killed a third bomber and defused his explosives.

Takfiri terrorists also fired several mortar rounds at the mausoleum during the attack.

The attack came as the death toll from Sunday’s car bombing in busy commercial areas of the Iraqi capital climbed to 292.

SS