A leading Iraqi expert in ISIL (ISIS) and other armed groups were shot dead in Baghdad on Monday after receiving threats from Iranian-backed militias, security and interior officials said.
Hisham al-Hashemi, 47, was shot near his home in the Zeyouneh area of Baghdad and was pronounced dead in a hospital, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity according to regulations.
“Yes, he passed away and his body is now in the hospital freezer,” said Saad Maan, head of the media relations department at the interior ministry.
A medical source at the hospital confirmed to the AFP news agency that Hashemi had suffered “a shower of gunshot wounds to various parts of the body.”
Terribly sad news from Baghdad about the murder of Hisham al-Hashemi. He was a friend and invaluable source to many who studied and reported on Iraq. His knowledge and understanding of ISIS and its precursors was unmatched. Much dies with him. Rip @hushamalhashimi
– Liz Sly (@LizSly) July 6, 2020
The investigator assigned to the murder told AFP that Hashemi, 47, left his home and was getting into his car when three men armed with two motorcycles shot him meters away.
Hashemi was injured and crouched behind his car, but the gunmen approached and shot him four times in the head at close range, the investigator said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the murder.
RIP @hushamalhashimi. One of the best terrorism experts and a really good human being.
They shot him dead in front of his house an hour ago.
A great loss! # Iraq– Dr. Abbas Kadhim (@DrAbbasKadhim) July 6, 2020
Wordlessly shocked by news of the murder of Iraqi friend and top analyst @hushamalhashimi. According to reports, armed men on a motorcycle outside his home. Head shot. A cowardly act. What a waste! RIP
– Kim Ghattas (@KimGhattas) July 6, 2020
Al-Hashemi was a respected security analyst who appeared regularly on Iraqi television and whose experience was sought by government officials, journalists and investigators.
Weeks before his death, al-Hashemi told the confidants that he feared that Iranian-backed militia groups would attack him. He was known to be critical of militia activity.
His death comes as the government grapples with a series of rocket attacks against US interests in the country believed to be orchestrated by Iranian-backed militia groups. A raid last week detained 14 members of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah group. All but one were released.
Al-Hashemi was a staunch supporter of popular protests that swept through Baghdad and the majority Shiites in southern Iraq in October, protests that had struck the government as corrupt, inefficient and committed to neighboring Iran.
More than 500 people lost their lives in the violence related to the protests, including several prominent activists who were shot in Baghdad, Basra in the south and other cities.
But high-profile political assassinations have been rare in recent years.
“The cowards killed my friend and one of Iraq’s brightest investigators, Hisham al-Hashemi. I am amazed,” wrote Harith Hasan, an academic researcher before becoming an adviser to the current Prime Minister of Iraq.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
