No casualties reported, investigation underway
Bomb explosion targets KDP official’s vehicle in Kalar
KALAR – A vehicle belonging to Akram Salih, head of the 22nd branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Garmiyan, exploded on Monday morning in Kalar city, at the southern tip of the Kurdistan Region. The explosion, which occurred around 9:30 a.m., caused no casualties but resulted in material damage, including shattered windows on the vehicle and nearby houses.
A witness and neighbor of Salih told 964media that Salih was driving nearby when the explosion occurred, shattering his vehicle’s front windows. Salih stated that the incident happened while he was on his way to work, allowing him to exit the vehicle moments before it caught fire. “The explosion was caused by a planted magnetic bomb,” he said.
This is the second such incident in the Sulaymaniyah region in recent months, following an unsuccessful assassination attempt in April on former military official Ata Sarawi, who was also targeted with a magnetic bomb attached to his vehicle. Sarawi was until recently affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the rival party of the KDP and the governing party in the Sulaymaniyah region.
Salih described the incident as “a terrorist act” and called on authorities to investigate and identify the perpetrators. Security forces are continuing their investigation to determine the details behind the incident. Sulaymaniyah Security spokesperson Salam Abdul Khaliq confirmed that the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
In a later press conference, Salih claimed the vehicle was remotely detonated. “We have no problem with anyone, and this incident is purely a security matter,” he said. “We are awaiting the results of the investigation.”