Muslim Preacher assassinated in northeast Iraq’s Baaquba city

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: A Muslim mosque preacher had been assassinated in an attack by unknown gunmen in northeastern Iraq‘s city of Baaquba on Monday, a security source said. “A Mosque preacher has been assassinated in an armed attack by a group of unknown gunmen northeast of Baaquba city, whilst an immigrant family’s house was attacked in the same city by an improvised explosive device (IED) on Monday, the security source told IraqiNews.com news agency. He said the IED blew up in the family’s house, wounding one of its members and causing severe damage to the house, adding that an unknown armed group broke through al-Bukhary Mosque in Miqdadiya township, 45 kms to the northeast of Baaquba, opened fire on its Preacher, Sheikh Qassim Balasim, killing him on the spot. Baaquba, the center of Diala Province, is 57 kms to the northeast of Baghdad. SKH(PT)/SR 918