Four police officers were killed in clashes that erupted late Saturday in Baghdad over an increase in fees for a private power generator. Iraqi security officials, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the dispute began over higher electricity bills. The vast majority of Iraqis rely on private generators to compensate for daily long power cuts from the public grid.
The Interior Ministry stated that the violence in Baghdad’s Saada area resulted in the deaths of four police officers, including two commanders, who had intervened to break up a “tribal dispute.” A security official, who requested anonymity, said the updated death toll was confirmed after two police officers died from their injuries.
The ministry also reported that nine other officers were wounded. According to the ministry, the police force was attacked by “those who started the clashes,” and the officers returned fire, killing two people. Five of those involved in the clashes were wounded, and several were arrested.
