The Kurdish security forces on Tuesday arrested a group of Islamic Stat’s (ISIS) jihadists northwest of Kirkuk city, in northern Iraq, officials said.

The ISIS-affliated cell was reportedly preparing to carry out terror attacks in Kirkuk.

“By arresting them, our forces prevented several attacks in Kirkuk,” the Kurdish security said.

The Kurdistan Region’s Security Council (KRSC) issued a statement saying: “Our Counter Terrorism Dept (CTD) and Kirkuk’s Asayish arrested six ISIS members in Bajwan in NW Kirkuk and foiled their planned attacks.”

“Their plans included attacks in Kirkuk city and Dubiz district. The group is responsible for acts of terrorism in villages West of Kirkuk,” the KRSC said.

The six ISIS suspects were identified as Barzan Mohammed [nicknamed Qahtan], who was leading the group, beside Rokan Mohammed, Nazhan Mohammed, Ahmad Mohammed, Mohammed Ali Ibrahim and Fars Mokhlaf.

This is the second time this week that the Kurdish security forces announced the arrest of ISIS suspects.

Last Monday, the KRSC and CTD announced the arrest of Ali Sleman Osman, who was involved in an attack on the US consulate in Erbil on April 17, 2015. Osman had  earlier avoided arrest by fleeing the Kurdistan Region.

Source: aranews.net