Triple murder in Baiji motivated by gold theft, Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirms

SALAH AL-DIN — The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has confirmed that the murder of a family in Baiji on the night of August 27 was motivated by a criminal intent to steal gold trinkets, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the gruesome incident that has shocked the nation.

This follows a similar statement released by local officials yesterday.

In a press release, the Ministry stated that “following the murder of an entire family and the burning of their home in the Baiji district of Salah Al-Din governorate, Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al-Shammari directed the formation of a specialized task force comprised of the Salah Al-Din Police, the Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism Department of the province, and the Falcons Intelligence Cell to uncover the details of this incident.”

The statement further noted that “through swift, high-quality intelligence work and continuous follow-up, the security team managed to identify crucial leads, resulting in the arrest of two suspects, one of whom is a relative of the victims.”

“The perpetrators have confessed, and an on-site investigation was conducted. Legal proceedings are now underway to ensure they face appropriate justice.”

On Aug. 28, local authorities reported that a family of three was killed in their home in Baiji the previous night before their house was set ablaze. The victims — Safaa Shakir Hamid Al-Janabi, his wife, and their son Mustafa — were discovered bound, stabbed, and strangled inside their residence in the Asriya district of Baiji. The crime was uncovered early on the morning of August 28 when municipal workers noticed smoke rising from the house, according to a statement from Adel Al-Dujaili, the district commissioner of Baiji.

Later that same day, Salah Al-Din Governor Badar Mahmoud Fahl announced that the investigation into the brutal murder was ongoing. In response to the incident, the police chief of Baiji was removed from his position. “The police chief of Baiji failed to maintain the required security and stability in the district, which necessitated his removal,” Fahl stated.

This incident follows a similar attack on Aug. 19 in the governorate, when gunmen disguised in military uniforms stormed a home in the Abbasiyah area of Samarra. Five family members, including three children, were killed before the attackers set the house on fire and fled, according to a security source.