Update: Rudaw: We are not afraid
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—A few minutes after midnight, the news room in Rudaw’s head office in Erbil was calm as people were finishing their shift and preparing to go home. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the building. About six or seven gunshots closely followed.
Akram, though injured, fired a volley of bullets into the air, reacting to the explosion which hit one of Rudaw’s mobile satellite trucks.
Within twelve minutes of the attack, Asayesh (security), ambulance and fire trucks were on the scene.
The five injured were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and are in stable condition.
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani called Rudaw Media Network to ask about the condition of Rudaw employees and expressed his hope that the injured recover quickly.
The governor of Erbil province, Nawzad Hadi, visited the Rudaw building to also express sympathy and solidarity saying that the attack on Rudaw was an attack on the whole capital.
“An attack on Rudaw Media Network is a cowardly act. We will find the perpetrators soon and arrest them,” he vowed.
The situation is now under control but the smell of the explosion still hangs in the air.
We at Rudaw are grateful the injuries of our colleagues are minor and wish them a speedy recovery. To the perpetrators of the attack, we say we are not afraid. We will continue with our professional coverage.
Read Rudaw Media Network’s full statement responding to the attack here.
Unknown perpetrators threw a grenade at the Rudaw building from a moving car. Three of Rudaw's security guards, Hersh Akram, Huner Maroof, and Ahmed Munhim, one of Rudaw's drivers, Nashwan Xarib, and a member of Rudaw’s public relations staff, Xalil Rashid, were injured.
Akram, though injured, fired a volley of bullets into the air, reacting to the explosion which hit one of Rudaw’s mobile satellite trucks.
Within twelve minutes of the attack, Asayesh (security), ambulance and fire trucks were on the scene.
The five injured were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and are in stable condition.
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani called Rudaw Media Network to ask about the condition of Rudaw employees and expressed his hope that the injured recover quickly.
The governor of Erbil province, Nawzad Hadi, visited the Rudaw building to also express sympathy and solidarity saying that the attack on Rudaw was an attack on the whole capital.
“An attack on Rudaw Media Network is a cowardly act. We will find the perpetrators soon and arrest them,” he vowed.
The situation is now under control but the smell of the explosion still hangs in the air.
We at Rudaw are grateful the injuries of our colleagues are minor and wish them a speedy recovery. To the perpetrators of the attack, we say we are not afraid. We will continue with our professional coverage.
Read Rudaw Media Network’s full statement responding to the attack here.