The Iraqi Judiciary arrested on Thursday three security officers, including two majors and a lieutenant, on charges of killing protesters in central Baghdad early this week, using hunting rifles.
Iraqi Interior Minister Othman Al-Ghanemi revealed the news in a press conference held in the capital. He gave the names of the policemen and displayed the arms and ammunition they had used.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had ordered the country’s security forces to investigate the deaths of several anti-government protesters in central Baghdad on Monday.
“The two martyrs fell as a result of the use of personal hunting rifles by two officers of the rank of a major, a lieutenant, and an associate, and that Major Ahmed Salam Khadir admitted using his personal weapon," Ghanemi said in a press conference.
He added that during questioning with Lieutenant Hussein Jabbar, he admitted to using a hunting rifle to confront the demonstrators. The third is Alaa Fadel.
According to the Minister, the judge decided to arrest the accused officers in line with Article 406/1 of the Penal Code, and investigations are ongoing to refer them to the competent court.
Ghanemi said an investigation had been opened because the federal police had deployed "to fire live rounds in the air", contravening orders not to use live fire by the PM, who heads the armed forces.
He called on the demonstrators to commit to peace, and security services to protect the demonstrators.
In a tweet, Kadhimi confirmed that he will proceed with opening a probe with all those involved in the bloodshed of demonstrators.
"We promised our people to reveal the facts about the incidents of Tahrir Square within 72 hours, and we did,” he said.
