Iraq police arrest suspects in separate Baghdad arson and Diyala extortion cases

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Police in Baghdad and Diyala carried out separate operations on Monday, resulting in multiple arrests in an arson case and an extortion scheme. The Baghdad Rusafa Police Command said a house in the Rusafa area of the capital was set on fire using a Molotov-style bottle, causing material damage but no injuries. A joint force drawn from the Jerusalem Station Commissioner’s Office, Sumer Police Center, emergency patrols and the Rusafa homicide unit identified the suspects and detained two of them shortly after the incident. A motorcycle used in the attack was seized, and legal proceedings were opened against the two detainees. In Diyala, a security operation supervised by Diyala Police Director Major General Mohammed Kazim Atiya led to the arrest of three people allegedly involved in extortion. A National Security ambush, set up with the Diyala Fifth Emergency Battalion, captured the suspects, who authorities said had demanded 75 million dinar from a citizen to prevent the release of personal images. The suspects were handed over to National Security patrols for further action. No further details were immediately available from the authorities on either case.