On Saturday, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Brigadier Mukdad Meiri, confirmed the killing of the suspect involved in the Babil incident and the injury of three students and three other citizens. In a statement, Meiri explained that "upon reaching the scene of the incident and monitoring the injured, it was found that three students were injured, along with three other citizens, while the only one killed was the suspect, who had a criminal record, and the legal procedures are ongoing."
Earlier, the Ministry of Interior reported that "following a notification from the family of an individual in Babil regarding the attempted murder of a person in front of one of the banks in the province, the security forces began taking precautionary measures to prevent the crime." Furthermore, "the suspect fired at the police and fled, brandished a weapon at the driver of a vehicle passing by that was carrying a number of students, forced one of them out, and ordered the driver to leave the vehicle, which prompted the police to pursue him. A shootout occurred between the suspect and a police patrol, resulting in the death of two citizens and injuries to others."
It was also noted that "the Minister of Interior directed that necessary legal actions be taken against the patrol and the suspect, and to place them under detention, as well as sending an investigative committee to look into the incident." Reports emerged that students at the University of Babil nearly became victims: an armed individual in a vehicle fired shots near the Al-Hilla overpass, accompanied by another person who was pursued by security forces. Upon reaching near the University of Babil, one of the assailants fled, entering a vehicle containing several female students, while the other continued.
A security source reported the death of two individuals, one of whom was at a "funeral" in front of the University of Babil. The source indicated that "security forces killed a kidnapper after pursuing him near the University of Babil." Additionally, he mentioned that "another person in a coaster vehicle accompanying a funeral coming from Baghdad died near the scene as a result of gunfire."
A video surfaced of a witness recounting the details of the incident, confirming that "a kidnapping occurred in front of the University of Babil, and the kidnapper was chased by security forces towards the College of Hilla," adding that "the kidnapper attempted to switch his vehicle for another of the KIA brand." He noted that "the security forces continued to pursue the kidnapper, killed him, and liberated the kidnapped individuals," highlighting that "a funeral was passing near the incident location when one of the attendees died as a result of gunfire."
