Al-Israa University shooter had three pistols, incident contained in ’50 Seconds’, dean says

BAGHDAD – The shooter at Al-Israa University was armed with three pistols and a bayonet during Sunday’s attack, the university’s dean said in a press conference.

Dean Abdul Razaq Al-Majidi praised the swift response of the university’s security team, who managed to apprehend the suspect without using firearms and within just 50 seconds.

On Jan. 5, 2025, a shooting at Al-Israa University College in Baghdad resulted in six injuries.

The assailant, identified as 2005-born Ibrahim Al-Saadi, was apprehended by security forces following the attack. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, the incident was triggered by a dispute between the suspect and several individuals on campus.

“The assailant used two of the three pistols he carried, along with a bayonet, injuring six individuals—three students, two security guards, and one administrative staff member,” the dean said.

He clarified that the shooter was not a student at Al-Israa University but was enrolled in the nursing program at Baghdad Private College of Medical Sciences.

The dean explained that the security team tackled and detained the shooter in the courtyard near the academic departments before handing him over to the authorities.

“The entire incident—from the first shot fired to the suspect’s capture—lasted no more than 50 seconds,” he said.

Al-Majidi also highlighted the presence of 50 security personnel on campus, which contributed to the quick resolution of the incident.

Reassuring students and their families, the dean said, “The university remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of our students and maintaining the smooth operation of the learning process.”