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A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 30 OctOber 2019
Masked gunmen attack protesters in Iraq holy city; 18 killed

Associated Press ers had set up tents for their
BAGHDAD (AP) — Masked sit-in.
gunmen opened fire at One of the demonstrators
Iraqi protesters in the Shi- said they were chanting
ite holy city of Karbala on slogans when an army unit
Tuesday, killing 18 people arrived and that they gave
and wounding hundreds, the soldiers flowers and had
security officials said, in friendly interactions. Then
one of the deadliest single tear gas canisters came
attacks since anti-gov- spiraling into the square,
ernment demonstrations fired from the streets and
erupted earlier this month. alleys behind the soldiers,
The overnight attack came who then withdrew.
as Iraqis took to the streets "We saw masked men
for a fifth straight day after dressed all in black and
a hiatus in the demonstra- they fired live bullets to-
tions that began earlier this ward the square," the pro-
month to protest govern- tester said. "People fell
ment corruption, a lack of dead and wounded right
jobs and municipal services next to me. We tried to es-
and other grievances. The cape but when we fled into
earlier protests also saw the alleys we ran into mov-
violence against protesters, ing checkpoints set up by
and a total of 240 people these forces. They arrested
have been killed since the Anti-government protesters gather near Basra provincial council building during a demonstration people and searched their
unrest began. in Basra, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. phones for video of what
But the bloodshed in Associated Press had happened."
Karbala could mark a turn- Another witness said hun-
ing point because of the It was not immediately withdrew after the attack- fire on the camp. dreds of protesters were
high death toll and be- clear who was behind the ers began firing tear gas Provincial governor Nassif in the encampment when
cause the city is a major attack, and protesters said and live ammunition. al-Khutabi denied that any someone opened fire
pilgrimage site where a re- they did not know wheth- Amid a clampdown by se- protesters were killed but from a passing car. Then,
vered Shiite figure was killed er the masked men were curity forces, it was difficult said there were some inju- masked gunmen in black
in a 7th century battle. riot police, special forces to piece together what ex- ries among security forces. plainclothes arrived and
There were differing ac- or Iran-linked militias. The actly prompted the attack He said videos posted on- started shooting at the
counts and death tolls, and protesters said Iraqi sol- although eyewitnesses told line were fabricated and protesters, and the tents
details were still emerging diers had been stationed The Associated Press that not from Karbala. The foot- caught fire.
from the scene. around the protest site but masked gunmen opened age purported to show the Both witnesses spoke on
aftermath of the attack, condition of anonymity be-
with fires and people run- cause they feared reprisal.
ning away to the sound of The death toll was con-
heavy gunfire. Al-Khutabi's firmed by Iraqi security offi-
description contradicted cials, also speaking anony-
those from people who mously, because they were
were at the scene. not authorized to talk to re-
An AP video showed a porters.
nighttime fire and young The anti-government pro-
protesters, some of them tests in Karbala, Baghdad
taking video with their cell- and cities across southern
phones, as gunfire echoes. Iraq have often turned vi-
An ambulance can be olent, with security forces
seen trying to drive amid opening fire and protesters
the chaos, with Iraqi secu- torching government build-
rity forces arriving. ings and headquarters of
The leaderless and large- Iran-backed militias.
ly spontaneous protests The demonstrations have
across Iraq have been met occurred in Shiite-majority
with bullets and tear gas areas and have been di-
by security forces from the rected at the Shiite-dom-
start. inated government and
At least 73 people — not Shiite political parties and
including the latest fa- militias, many of which are
talities in Karbala — have supported by neighboring
been killed since anti-gov- Iran.
ernment demonstrations In Tehran, the Foreign Min-
resumed Friday, while 149 istry warned Iranians trav-
were killed during the ear- eling to Iraq during the
lier wave of protests this demonstrations and asked
month. them to postpone their trips
Tuesday's attack hap- until further notice, accord-
pened in Karbala's Educa- ing to the state-run IRNA
tion Square, where protest- news agency.q