|
7 die in double bombing in Erbil
[ARA News] Erbil – At least seven people were killed in a twin bomb attack that targeted the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan’s (PDK-I) office in Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, late Tuesday evening.The PDK-I confirmed in a statement that seven were killed and four injured in a twin bombing that was allegedly carried out by the Iranian state. According to officials, two Peshmerga fighters and two members of the security police were injured in the attack. Ali Qoytasi, a senior member of the PDK-I, was among the dead in the attack. The explosions took place during the Yalda celebration, a celebration of winter solstice on December 21–the last night of fall and the longest night of the year. Hosyar Zebari, the former Iraqi Minister of Finance, blamed the Iranian intelligence for the attack. “Most likely Iranian IRGs MOIS carried the terrorist attack against KDP-I headquarters in Koi Senjak E of Erbil,” Zebari said. This is not the first time that Iran allegedly targeted Kurdish parties. On 9 August 2015, the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan reported that an Iranian agent planted four improvised explosives at Komala’s Zrgwez camp, which were defused by the Kurdish security forces. “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack against the PDK-I in Koya, urge the authorities to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” said Dr Mahmoud Othman, the former chairman of the Kurdistan Socialist Party and a member of the Iraqi governing council. Tensions have increased between the Iranian Kurdish parties and the Iranian regime since the former decided to resume their armed struggle last summer. The parties are principally seeking an autonomous Kurdish government in Iran, analogous to the KRG in Iraq. Posted by: badanov 2016-12-21 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=476361 |