Kirkuk police officer killed in suspected blood feud in Kirkuk

KIRKUK — A police officer was shot dead in Kirkuk on Tuesday morning in what authorities suspect to be a blood feud, according to a security source.

The officer was killed at approximately 9:46 a.m. while inside his vehicle on Shoraw Street, along the Kirkuk-Erbil road. Security officials confirmed the incident to 964media, stating, “The crime appears to be an act of familial retaliation rather than a terrorist attack.”

The source revealed that the victim was a member of the second emergency police regiment. “The officer’s brother had previously killed someone and gone into hiding,” the source explained. “It is believed the officer was murdered in revenge for that incident.”

An investigation is currently underway, and the officer’s body has been sent to the forensic medical department for examination.

Blood feuds are common in Iraq, driven largely by the country’s deeply rooted tribal culture. These conflicts can range from non-violent disputes to armed confrontations, with retaliation frequently seen as a way to restore honour within the community.

On April 29, the Ministry of Interior announced that it had resolved 400 tribal disputes in the first four months of 2024, with the majority being non-violent. The reduction in these conflicts, which continue to pose a significant threat to social peace and security, was attributed to intensified efforts to curb tribal retaliation.