Office of Kurdish official attacked in Kirkuk

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The office of a Kurdish politician, who was recently elected deputy speaker of Iraqi parliament, in Kirkuk city was attacked with grenades late Wednesday but did not cause any casualties, the official told Rudaw. 

Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) Shakhawan Abdullah, who was elected as the second deputy speaker of the Iraqi legislature earlier this month, told Rudaw that his office in Kirkuk city was attacked with grenades but only caused material damage. 

“Security forces went to the incident area and have launched an investigation,” he added. 

Several attacks have taken place against offices of political parties in Iraq this month, including bomb attack on KDP office in Baghdad on January 13. No group has shouldered responsibility for the attacks. 

However, the attacks are believed to be affiliated to October 10 parliamentary elections results and the election of parliament leadership. Pro-Iran political parties, who have formed the Coordination Framework, have objected to both elections. 

The KDP and most of the Sunnis have formed an unofficial block with the main winner of the October vote, Sadrist movement. 

Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement, has warned several times that those who support his idea of a majority government should not be targeted. 

He indirectly blamed the Coordination Framework for the latest attacks on political parties in a tweet late Wednesday. 

The office of KDP leader Masoud Barzani condemned the “terrorist” attack on Abdullah’s office, calling on the relevant authorities to find the perpetrators.