Iraqi authorities arrest suspect in Kirkuk bombing after luring him back to Iraq

KIRKUK – The Iraqi National Security Service announced the arrest of a suspect in the October 5 bombing of a Kirkuk store after luring him back into the country from abroad.

The agency, in coordination with the Directorate of Asayish Operations in Sulaymaniyah, apprehended the suspect following a six-day investigation. The bombing targeted a commercial shop in Kirkuk’s Musalla neighborhood, injuring five people, including the store owner and his wife. Among the injured was Saygin Hager Oglu, a prominent Turkmen leader and head of the Turkmen House headquarters, who sustained serious injuries in the attack.

According to the agency, intelligence revealed that the suspect had surveilled the shop multiple times before placing an explosive device in a concealed bag outside the site. The bomb was detonated remotely using a mobile phone.

In response, a specialized task force was formed. Investigators discovered that the suspect fled Iraq immediately after the incident and remained abroad for five days before being drawn back to Sulaymaniyah.

“After pinpointing his location, our teams secured the necessary judicial authorizations to apprehend the suspect under Article 4 of the Terrorism Law,” the National Security Service stated. The suspect has been handed over to the relevant authorities for further legal proceedings.

The statement did not disclose any motive for the attack, leaving questions about the reason behind the targeting unanswered.

The bombing, which occurred on Oct. 5 outside a currency exchange shop, injured five people. The Iraqi Turkmen Front later confirmed that the attack targeted Oglu, a key figure within the organization, heightening concerns about political and ethnic tensions in the region.