Woman seriously injured after being shot near Najaf courthouse

NAJAF — A woman was shot and seriously wounded near the entrance to the Al-Hurriya subdistrict courthouse north of Najaf on Sunday, according to security officials. The suspected gunman, identified as a male relative of the victim, was arrested shortly after the attack.

“A man opened fire on a woman near the gate of the Al-Hurriya courthouse,” a security source told 964media. “She was hit by two bullets — one in the abdomen and another in the head. She was first taken to Al-Hurriya Hospital and then transferred to Al-Sadr Hospital due to the severity of her condition.”

The source confirmed that the suspect and the victim are related but did not elaborate further. “We have arrested the suspect. No further details are available at this time,” the source said.

In a statement, the Najaf Police Command said, “Kufa police units arrested a person accused of shooting a female citizen in Al-Hurriya subdistrict, causing various injuries. The victim was transported to the hospital to receive necessary treatment, while authorities launched an investigation and began legal procedures against the suspect.”

The statement added that police operations are ongoing “to pursue lawbreakers and safeguard the security and safety of citizens.”

As of Sunday evening, no official motive for the shooting had been released.