Loud bang at Erbil mall was car accident, not terror related: officials
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A huge bang was heard across Erbil city on Tuesday night. Officials reassured the public it was not terror-related.
The noise was the result of a car accident in front of Majidi Mall, a busy spot in the evenings. The volume of the bang sparked fear that a bomb had gone off.
"The Erbil incident was not terror related," Erbil governor Nawzad Hadi told Rudaw.
According to preliminary investigations, "no explosive substances were used in the incident,” he added.
Abdulkhaliq Talaat, head of Erbil Police, said that three people were injured in the crash and rushed to hospital.
Witnesses said one of the vehicles in the crash was carrying kerosene.
"I heard a big bang. One of the cars had loaded kerosene in it," said a witness.
Locals contacted Rudaw saying they felt the force of the bang, reporting their windows shook kilometres away from the site.
The noise was the result of a car accident in front of Majidi Mall, a busy spot in the evenings. The volume of the bang sparked fear that a bomb had gone off.
"The Erbil incident was not terror related," Erbil governor Nawzad Hadi told Rudaw.
According to preliminary investigations, "no explosive substances were used in the incident,” he added.
Abdulkhaliq Talaat, head of Erbil Police, said that three people were injured in the crash and rushed to hospital.
Witnesses said one of the vehicles in the crash was carrying kerosene.
"I heard a big bang. One of the cars had loaded kerosene in it," said a witness.
Locals contacted Rudaw saying they felt the force of the bang, reporting their windows shook kilometres away from the site.