Erbil doctor arrested in connection with murder of 4 family members

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Erbil security forces on Thursday arrested a doctor accused of killing at least four members of his family.

“Following reports of gunfire in Farmanbaran neighborhood, security teams launched an investigation and identified the convict as S.M.A., a doctor. Authorities said he used a pistol to kill his wife, her father, her mother, and her sister over a family dispute,” read a statement from the Asayish (internal security forces).

The suspect was arrested hours later.

Witnesses said there have been problems in the family in the past and the suspect’s wife had gone to stay at her father’s house.

“His wife asked for a divorce and the doctor couldn't stand it,” a witness told Rudaw.

On Thursday night the suspect broke into his father-in-law's house and killed all four people. Rudaw has learned that he also killed his son, who was under 10 years old.

Firearms are easily purchased in the Kurdistan Region and there is a black market where sniper rifles and machine guns can be found for sale. An estimated 70 percent of the population own weapons.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has tried to regulate gun ownership, but shootings remain a security problem.