Prime minister orders investigation into killing of young man in Samarra

SAMARRA — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has ordered the formation of an investigative committee to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a young man whose body was found on the outskirts of Samarra in Salah Al-Din governorate.

According to a statement from the Iraqi Security Media Cell, “Following the incident that occurred east of Samarra and the discovery of a young man’s body and the recovery of his vehicle from the river, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces has directed the formation of an investigative committee led by the Joint Operations Command and involving relevant agencies to determine the circumstances of this incident and present a detailed report for his review.”

The statement said technical teams and forensic experts continue to examine the scene. “Efforts are still ongoing by technical security agencies, forensic experts, and specialists to determine all the details of this incident and uncover its real causes,” it read.

On Friday, Iraqi news outlets reported that security forces discovered the body of a man in his twenties near the Banat Al-Hassan area in Samarra. The victim reportedly showed signs of torture and had been executed by gunfire. His hands were bound, his eyes blindfolded, and the body bore evidence of abuse, including acid burns.

Preliminary investigations indicate the man was kidnapped by unidentified individuals about three days earlier. His family had reported him missing after losing contact with him.