BAGHDAD, Iraq - The brutal killing of eight members of a family in Baghdad earlier his week has shocked the nation. Police said the perpetrators have been arrested.
A man owed Sarah Muhsin’s family 18 million dinars. His wife invited Sara to their house, claiming that she wanted to pay their debt back. Sarah took four of her children with herself. However, the host and her husband had a vicious plan.
The wife killed Sarah and her four children at her home, and visited their house to kill the other two children and their aunt, according to police.
Sarah was eight months pregnant, according to family. The incident took place in Baghdad’s Sadr city late Monday.
A total of eight people were killed. Some claim they were beheaded.
"Before beheading the woman, the perpetrators persuaded the children to go to the local store to buy treats. They then killed the woman and Sarah’s eight-year-old daughter. When the other children returned from the market, they were beheaded one by one in a back room," Jasim Mohammed, a relative of the victims, told Rudaw on Tuesday.
When the mass killing took place, Sarah's husband, Hamza Hameed, was at work and unaware of the horrific events unfolding at home.
Police said on Tuesday that the indebted husband and his wife (main suspect) were arrested in connection with the tragedy.
"Prime minister, we demand your direct involvement. Nine innocent members of our tribe have been killed. This is our final call. We demand the immediate execution of those who guided them and the ones who killed them," said Rahim Mazkhor, a tribal leader.