Two minors detained in Kirkuk over killing of three-year-old boy

KIRKUK, Iraq — Police in Kirkuk have detained two minors, aged 10 and 11, in connection with the abduction, sexual assault and killing of a three-year-old boy whose body was left in an abandoned pool for two days, local security forces said. The victim was taken from the Haziran Bir neighborhood in Kirkuk. According to a police statement, the two suspects were taken into custody after the discovery of the body, and security sources said the investigation is continuing into all aspects of the case. The suspects' ages have raised concerns that organized groups may be using children to carry out serious crimes. Officials have not said whether that line of inquiry is being pursued under Iraqi law, which classifies those under 18 as lacking full discernment and requires deeper investigation in serious cases. Social services specialist Ershad al-Harimzi said he has encountered many children of similar ages as victims and defendants during visits to juvenile detention facilities. He said the case should be examined in the context of family, school, social environment and unsupervised internet use.