Basra police arrest suspect in child killing after five months on run

BASRA — Basra police said Sunday they arrested a suspect accused of killing a child in Abu al-Khasib district after five months in hiding, saying the killing stemmed from a tribal dispute involving another member of the victim’s clan and not the child’s father.

Police said a special team was formed to investigate the case, gather information and track leads until officers identified the suspect.

The suspect had remained out of sight for five months before police located and arrested him, according to the statement.

Investigators determined that the killing was linked to a tribal dispute involving a member of the victim’s tribe, while the child’s father was not a party to the dispute and had no connection to it, police said.

Authorities said legal measures were taken against the suspect and he was referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation.