Baghdad police arrest suspect caught extorting girl online

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Police in Baghdad's Rusafa district arrested a suspect caught red-handed while extorting a girl through electronic means, the Baghdad Police Command's Rusafa division said on Friday. According to the command, emergency patrols from the Karada First District responded after the victim filed a help request saying she was being blackmailed online. Intelligence work and a planned ambush led officers to detain the suspect while he was taking money from the girl. Cash recovered at the scene was confirmed to be the proceeds of the extortion. The suspect was handed over to the relevant police station to begin legal proceedings. The command said the suspect had used electronic blackmail to financially pressure the victim over an extended period and urged citizens facing similar crimes to contact emergency hotlines.