Hisham al-Hashimi: Leading Iraqi security expert shot dead in Baghdad

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – A leading Iraqi expert on armed groups, who advised governments and appeared frequently in the media, has been shot dead in the capital, Baghdad.

Hisham al-Hashimi was killed near his home in the Ziyouna district on Monday night by two gunmen riding a motorbike.

No group has said it was behind the shooting, but he had reportedly been threatened by the Sunni jihadist group Islamic State and Shia militias.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi blamed groups “outside the law”.

“We vow to his killers that we will pursue them so they are justly punished. We will not allow assassinations to return to Iraq for a single second,” a statement said.

On Tuesday, a top police officer who was in charge of security in the area where Mr Hashimi lived was sacked, the Shafaq news website cited the interior ministry as saying. No reason was given for Brig-Gen Mohammed Qasim’s dismissal.

The US embassy in Baghdad said in a Facebook post that it was “deeply shocked and saddened by the cowardly murder” of Mr Hashimi.

“Our deepest condolences to his family and to the people of Iraq for the tragic loss of this Iraqi national treasure. We call on the Iraqi government to bring those responsible for his murder to swift justice.”

UN special representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert also expressed shock.

“We strongly condemn this despicable act of cowardice,” a statement said. (BBC)