Gunmen in Baghdad kidnap deputy justice minister

Iraq’s Deputy Justice Minister Abdulkarim Fares has been kidnapped by gunmen in the capital, Baghdad, officials say.

According to a police colonel who was on the scene, the kidnappers opened fire on the driver of Fares’ convoy, injured him and took off with the deputy justice minister.

Local reports said the culprits were black-clad gunmen in a north Baghdad district.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry has confirmed the kidnapping took place on Tuesday, but according to AFP, it has provided no further details.

Fares is in charge of the financial and administrative affairs of the Iraqi Justice Ministry.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.

The kidnapping comes just days after gunmen abducted at least 18 employees of a major construction firm in Baghdad.

Kidnappings for political or financial reasons have been a persistent issue across Iraq for years since the 2003 US invasion of the country.