Iraq, Karbala: Terrorist plot targeting Arbaeen pilgrims foiled.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea_Agencies: The Karbala Investigation Court in Iraq announced the arrest of a terrorist network affiliated with the "ISIS terrorist entity" that intended to target visitors participating in the Arbaeen pilgrimage. The Supreme Judicial Council stated in a press release on Sunday that "under the direct supervision of the judge of the Karbala Investigation Court, and implemented by the Falcon Intelligence Cell in the governorate, 23 terrorism suspects were arrested, distributed in the southern governorates, the Middle Euphrates, and Baghdad, including a woman, and their statements were judicially ratified." It pointed out that "the convicts confessed to the existence of a terrorist plot to target the security and safety of visitors participating in the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein by carrying out terrorist operations." It stated that "the first plan included manufacturing and planting explosive devices on the routes of visitors in the southern axis, while the second plan was to put deadly poisons in the food utensils provided to visitors, which was supervised by a student in the anesthesia department, in addition to burning service processions." The investigations also revealed "the ISIS terrorist entity's use of methods in recruiting these elements, starting with brainwashing through bloody books and misleading extremist content, passing through integrating them into groups for distorted religious education and linking them to sheikhs specifically prepared for this purpose, and ending with forcing them to pledge allegiance to the leadership of the terrorist organization." The Supreme Judicial Council called on families to monitor the activities of their children through digital platforms and pay attention to any change in their behavior or ideological orientations, with immediate reporting to the security authorities when noticing any suspicious behavior. It also warned the owners of processions and Hussainiyas against allowing any unidentified person to access food and beverage preparation areas, while tightening control over all food supplies.