Explosion kills one in Halabja: police

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — One person died in an explosion in Halabja on Monday. Police suspect it was a suicide. 

The victim, identified as a 29-year-old man, "went to the park at 9am and greeted the two gardeners. Then, he moved away from them and shortly a sound was heard," Asayish (security forces) said in a statement submitted to Rudaw. 

Kazim Abdullah, head of Halabja police, initially told Rudaw it was not clear whether the explosion in the town’s Sharawani neighborhood was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), explosive belt, or something else.

Asayish forces are investigating the incident and have reached the initial conclusion that “it was a suicide, which was carried out with a sound grenade."

The investigation is ongoing. 


Updated at 12:39 pm