In a major development following the devastating fire at a shopping mall in Iraq’s Wasit Governorate, Iraq’s Ministry of Interior has announced the arrest of 17 government officials and 3 security officers over charges of gross negligence.
The tragic blaze, which erupted last Wednesday in the city of Kut, claimed the lives of more than 63 people and left over 50 others injured.
Brigadier General Muqdad Miri, head of the Ministry’s Public Relations and Media Department, stated that the arrests stem from the initial findings of a Supreme Investigative Committee formed under the directive of Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani.
The committee conducted comprehensive field investigations, collected evidence, and recorded testimonies from eyewitnesses and officials.
The preliminary results indicate systemic administrative failure and neglect by various departments, which severely worsened the impact of the fire.
As a result, the committee has temporarily suspended 17 employees from the Wasit Governorate’s administrative center and three key officers — the Director of the Tourist Security Department; the Director of Civil Defense and the Commander of the First Civil Defense Sector.
Brigadier General Miri emphasized that the committee’s work is ongoing and that final results will be disclosed transparently once the investigation is complete.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to justice and accountability for all those whose failures contributed to the tragedy.
