Diyala police say officer's death was murder over financial dispute, not suicide

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Diyala police said on Friday that the killing of a Crime Prevention officer in the Celule district was a murder stemming from a financial dispute, not a suicide as earlier reports had suggested. The Diyala Provincial Police Command, in a statement, said investigations carried out by the Khanaqin Police Directorate determined that the officer, who was killed several days ago, died from a gunshot fired by a person present at the scene. Forensic reports and the suspect's statements were reviewed during a 48-hour inquiry, according to the command. Earlier reports had claimed the officer died by suicide, saying he had fired a Glock-brand pistol at his own head in Celule on Thursday and that initial findings pointed to accumulated debts as a motive. Diyala police said the investigation had established the full circumstances of the killing and contradicted the earlier account. No further details on the suspect or the financial dispute were immediately released.