Iraqi prime minister orders ‘swift’ investigation into killing of family in Baghdad’s Sadr City

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday directed security agencies to expedite their investigation into the brutal killing of an eight-member family in Sadr City, east of the capital, and ensure the perpetrators face justice.

In a statement, Al-Sudani’s office said, “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has instructed the relevant security agencies within the Ministry of Interior to swiftly investigate the crime committed against a family in Sadr City, east of Baghdad, which resulted in the deaths of eight family members, and to bring the perpetrators to justice so they may receive their rightful punishment.”

On New Year’s Eve, eight members of a single family, including children, were brutally killed in Baghdad’s Sadr City in what authorities described as a crime driven by financial motives. The shocking incident sent ripples of grief and outrage across Iraq.

In a statement, the Baghdad-Rusafa Police Command said, “In a swift operation, Rusafa Police apprehended suspects involved in the brutal killing of an eight-member family within just 45 minutes of receiving the initial report.”

The police response was immediate. Units arrived at the scene in Sadr City after receiving reports of the murder, where they discovered the bodies of three victims — a woman and two children.

A specialized investigative team was formed to pursue leads. Investigators conducted an extensive search, gathered intelligence, and reviewed surveillance camera footage. These efforts led authorities to a primary suspect residing in the Al-Hamidiyah area.

Following legal procedures, police raided the suspect’s home, arresting him and his wife, who has also been implicated in the crime.

Inside the house, officers uncovered a grisly scene — five additional bodies belonging to members of the same family. The suspects, along with others present in the house, were detained for questioning.

During the interrogation, the suspects confessed to luring the primary victim and killing her along with four of her children inside their home. They then proceeded to the victim’s residence, where they killed the remaining family members, two young girls and their aunt. According to the police statement, the crime was motivated by an outstanding financial debt owed by the victims to the perpetrators, as well as an attempt to steal money from their home.