Bomb explodes near Kirkuk currency exchange, injuring five

KIRKUK — A bomb exploded Saturday morning in the Musalla neighborhood of Kirkuk, injuring five people, including a prominent Turkmen leader, outside a currency exchange shop, according to a 964media correspondent and local security sources.

A security official said the blast occurred near the Azadi police station. “The bomb detonated in front of a currency exchange shop, injuring three individuals, one of whom lost a leg,” the official said.

The Iraqi Turkmen Front claimed that the bombing targeted Saygin Hager Oglu, head of the Turkmen House headquarters and a key figure within the Front. Oglu sustained serious injuries in the attack.

In an official statement, the Turkmen Front condemned “in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist bombing that targeted the Musalla area of Kirkuk, injuring Saygin Hager Oglu and several unarmed civilians.”

“This cowardly act, aimed at Turkmen leaders and figures in Kirkuk, reflects the malicious intent of terrorist groups to destabilize the security and stability of our city. It is a desperate attempt to sow chaos and disrupt the harmony among the governorate’s communities,” the statement added.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the explosion. “It is still unclear whether this was a terrorist attack or related to another issue,” the official added.

A source at Kirkuk Hospital told 964media that two additional victims, a man and a woman, were brought in for treatment, bringing the total number of injured to five.

Najat Mohammed Sidiq, the mukhtar of the Musalla neighborhood, told 964media the explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. “Security forces are investigating and have collected CCTV footage to determine what happened,” Sidiq said.

Sidiq added that, according to a relative of the currency exchange shop’s owner, the owner had been recently threatened, though security forces are still looking into the claim.

An eyewitness told 964media, “The explosion was so loud that we initially thought it was a missile attack.”

Authorities have yet to release further details on the investigation.

This article has been updated