Iraq: Local officials detained over shopping centre fire

In Iraq, six local officials have been detained and public employees have been suspended following a fire in a shopping centre which killed over 70 people, authorities announced on July 19th, according to The New Arab via AFP.

The fire started late on July 16th in a shopping centre, which had opened days before in the city of Kut in eastern Iraq. The incident occurred against a backdrop of safety regulations being brushed aside in the country.

Following an investigation, the interior ministry concluded there was blatant negligence among a number of officials and employees in Kut, which is roughly 160 kilometres southeast of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad.

The New Arab via AFP, Maghrebi.org