Body of Missing 9-Year-Old Found in Water Project Channel in Tuz Khurmatu

SALAH AL-DIN — The body of a 9-year-old boy who had been missing for two days in Tuz Khurmatu was found early Wednesday in a channel connected to a local water project, a family member said.

The boy, Baraa Riyadh Faiq, went missing while playing in the streets of the Tini neighborhood. His disappearance prompted an overnight search by his family and residents.

“After my nephew went missing, we searched everywhere for him,” Khalid Faiq, the boy’s uncle, told 964media. “Early this morning, we found his body in the channel next to the water project in the district.”

He said local youth joined the search late Tuesday night. “Last night, a group of young men from the city came to help us. We started searching together around 10 p.m. By morning, we found the boy’s sandals near the project. That’s when we discovered his body in the channel. Because he was a child, he couldn’t get out.”

Baraa was a third-grade student and the only brother to three sisters. His body was sent to forensic medicine for examination and is expected to be returned to his family later today.