Mob kills teenage gunman, strings up corpse on pole

BAGHDAD » A mob killed a 16-year- old and strung up the corpse by its feet from a traffic pole after the teen shot and killed six people Thursday, including four anti- government protesters, Iraqi officials said.

Dozens of people pointed their cellphones at the body dangling high above them in a central Baghdad square. Videos circulating on social media showed the young man being beaten and dragged across the street. The violence underscored the growing fears and suspicions swirling around the eight-week- old movement, which engulfed Iraq on Oct. 1 when thousands took to the streets to decry government corruption, poor services and jobs.

A string of mysterious acts of bloodshed by unknown groups has put antigovernment protesters on edge and eroded their faith in the ability of state security forces to protect them.

Last Friday, 25 protesters died when gunmen in pickup trucks opened fire in Baghdad’s Khilani Square. That week, mysterious knife attacks targeted over a dozen anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, the hub of the protest movement.

In recent days, abductions and assassinations of high-profile civil activists have stoked paranoia among demonstrators. Protesters largely blame Iranbacked militias for the attacks and see the violence as a campaign to instill fear and weaken their peaceful movement.

Thursday’s bloodshed began when the young gunman opened fire in Baghdad’s Wathba Square, killing two shop owners and four protesters. Security officials said the teen was wanted by police on drugrelated charges and was running from security forces at the time.

An enraged mob beat the young man to death, security and health officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations. At least eight people were wounded, the officials said.

Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr called those who killed the teen “terrorists” and warned that if they were not identified within 48 hours, he would order his militia to leave the square. Members of Saraya Salam, or Peace Brigades, are deployed in the square to protect protesters.