Perpetrator of attack on Rudaw confesses
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil security forces arrested the assailant who detonated two hand grenades in front of Rudaw’s headquarters and, in footage released by the Asayesh [security forces], the perpetrator confessed to his act, which wounded two employees of Rudaw and three private security guards on June 25.
Surveillance camera footage shows the assailant as he placed two grenades under the left back tire of a Rudaw live coverage vehicle and left the scene. The grenades exploded 13 minutes later.
Asayesh arrested the perpetrator, Rebwar Wriya Salih, three days later, the security forces confirmed in a statement.
Salih confessed and said he was given the grenades from two men along with instructions of what to do. They told Salih they wanted to cause chaos in the capital of the Kurdistan Region through an act of terror against a major media corporation like Rudaw.
The two who orchestrated the attack are Saadi Mustafa Abdulrahman and Jwamer Osman Abdulla, said Salih. They also taught him how to handle and set the grenades in training conducted outside of the city.
Salih said that Saadi Mustafa Abdulrahman and Jwamer Osman Abdulla are members of the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG, Komal Party). He joined the party in 2008 and met Abdulrahman and Abdulla through the party.
The KIG issued a statement denying their party was involved in the attack and has rejected the accusations made by Salih.
The attack took place at 12:05 am on June 25, at the headquarters of Rudaw Media Network on Runaki Street in Erbil.
An employee in the public relations department, a driver, and three security guards were injured. Fortunately their injuries were minor. The attack also damaged two Rudaw live coverage vehicles.
"If the attack is a threatening message to Rudaw, the terrorist perpetrators of the attack should know that no terrorist attacks will scare the Rudaw employees and staff. You will not stop Rudaw from delivering news, information, and its professional coverage and you will not make our staff stay away from Rudaw. Rudaw was not afraid of any threats in the past and we will not be afraid now or in the future," reads a statement issued by Rudaw Media Network.
Surveillance camera footage shows the assailant as he placed two grenades under the left back tire of a Rudaw live coverage vehicle and left the scene. The grenades exploded 13 minutes later.
Asayesh arrested the perpetrator, Rebwar Wriya Salih, three days later, the security forces confirmed in a statement.
Salih confessed and said he was given the grenades from two men along with instructions of what to do. They told Salih they wanted to cause chaos in the capital of the Kurdistan Region through an act of terror against a major media corporation like Rudaw.
The two who orchestrated the attack are Saadi Mustafa Abdulrahman and Jwamer Osman Abdulla, said Salih. They also taught him how to handle and set the grenades in training conducted outside of the city.
Salih said that Saadi Mustafa Abdulrahman and Jwamer Osman Abdulla are members of the Kurdistan Islamic Group (KIG, Komal Party). He joined the party in 2008 and met Abdulrahman and Abdulla through the party.
The KIG issued a statement denying their party was involved in the attack and has rejected the accusations made by Salih.
The attack took place at 12:05 am on June 25, at the headquarters of Rudaw Media Network on Runaki Street in Erbil.
An employee in the public relations department, a driver, and three security guards were injured. Fortunately their injuries were minor. The attack also damaged two Rudaw live coverage vehicles.
"If the attack is a threatening message to Rudaw, the terrorist perpetrators of the attack should know that no terrorist attacks will scare the Rudaw employees and staff. You will not stop Rudaw from delivering news, information, and its professional coverage and you will not make our staff stay away from Rudaw. Rudaw was not afraid of any threats in the past and we will not be afraid now or in the future," reads a statement issued by Rudaw Media Network.