Guns, explosives seized in security raid on suspected ISIS hideout

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— More than 30 kilos of TNT explosives, several hand grenades, a firearm and a bomb laden vest were seized in a security operation on Saturday in the township of Bazian, near Sulaimani. Security officials said in a statement later that the building is believed to have been used by ISIS affiliates. No arrests were reported in connection to the operation that involved Kurdish security forces Asaysh.

The weapon cache also included 21 cellphones which the police believe were to be used as triggering devices to the explosive material, according to the head of the Asaysh in Sulaimani province, Major General Hasan Nouri. 

“The Asaysh had previous knowledge about an ISIS plan to disturb security in the Kurdistan Region,” Nouri said in statement and added that the plan had been “completely foiled.” 

Although not entirely immune to terror attacks, the Kurdistan Region has been spared much of the bloody violence that raged across Iraq since 2003. The last deadly bombing attack in Kurdistan was recorded in Koya township in December last year which targeted the offices of an Iranian Kurdish faction. The group lated accused Tehran of masterminding the bombing that killed 6 people.