SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s security forces have thwarted “sabotage attacks” against a diplomatic mission and Kurdish officials in the Region, the security council said on Monday.
The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said in a statement that the security forces had carried out operations against security threats in the Region in the past days.
The KRSC further said two specific sets of planned attacks, including one by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), were uncovered and foiled through close coordination of police, security, intelligence and counter-terrorism officials across the Region.
“Some of those responsible had ties to, and may have been directed by, individuals based outside Iraq, including in Europe,” the KRSC stated.
It added that the first case involved at least 12 suspects with links to the PKK and a number of other persons of interest based in other countries, including Europe.
The suspects planned to attack a foreign diplomatic mission in Erbil and assassinate members of the foreign mission, the KRSC said, without giving the name of the consulate.
The group planned to carry out attacks on private companies from that country operating in the Region and on a major western brand in the Kurdistan Region, according to the Region’s security council.
“The group was observed and then intercepted by the security forces, in an operation lasting over four months, saving numerous lives,” the KRSC statement read.
The security forces also detained eight suspects, who are all Iraqi citizens, during an operation lasting over a year, the statement said.
The suspects planned to assassinate a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) governor and to carry out other acts of violence in the Region, including Duhok province, the KRSC stated. The group also planned to target government bodies and property through attacks to undermine national security and KRG’s security services.
The KRSC further said police arrested seven more suspects as a result of an ongoing counter-terrorism intelligence operation lasting over a year.
It added that the group was part of a network established several years ago to collect information on the KRG’s intelligence and military services, buildings and employees.
The group also collected information as part of a plan to attack a senior intelligence official and a sitting judge. The group has shared information with other parties, including with PKK, according to the KRSC.
“These operations show both the ongoing threat to the peace and stability of our region, and our security forces’ effective response. We will not tolerate any acts of violence against foreign diplomats or businesses in Kurdistan.”
