Iraqi Defence Minister: 180 officers referred to court over massacre

Iraqi Defence Minister Khalid Al-Obeidi announced yesterday that as many as 180 army officers have been referred to court over the 2014 Camp Speicher massacre in which 1,700 soldiers were killed by Daesh, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking to the victims’ families at the ministry headquarters, Al-Obeidi said a special committee had been formed to follow-up with the victims’ families.

A re-investigation into the massacre will be opened in case new information is received, he added.

The 180 officers have been referred to court on alleged charges of negligence.

The Iraqi government revealed earlier that it had uncovered the remains of about 1,000 victims who perished in the massacre.

According to official sources, as many as 1,700 soldiers were executed in Camp Speicher on 12 June 2014, after Daesh took over the city of Tikrit.