Baghdad shooting: Fifteen dead after gunman opens fire on protesters, officials say

Sixty people also injured during shooting near Tahrir Square in Iraqi capital

Protesters hold Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and Iraqi flags as they march towards Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, 6 December, 2019. (Hadi Mizban/AP)

Fifteen people have died after gunmen opened fire on a crowd of protesters in Baghdad, according to reports from the Iraqi capital.

Protesters fearing for their lives ran from Khilani Square after unknown assailants fired live ammunition from cars.

Security and medical officials said at least two of the dead were police officers.

Sixty others were also wounded in the shooting near Tahrir Square, the capital’s main protest camp.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the shooting.

The attack came as anti-government demonstrators occupied parts of Jumhuriya, Sinak and Ahar bridges in a stand-off with security forces on Friday.

One protester said: “We are under live fire now with electric power cut, the wounded and martyrs are here and the bullets were fired in Sinak Bridge.”

The attacks come a day after a string of suspicious stabbings left at least 13 wounded in Tahrir Square.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured since anti-government demonstrations started in early October.

More than a dozen members of the security forces have also been killed in the clashes.

Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said he would resign last week after months of protests.

Iraq’s top Shia Muslim cleric said a new prime minister must be chosen without foreign interference in an apparent nod to Iranian influence after the shootings on Friday night.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s comments followed reports that a senior Iranian commander had been in Baghdad this week to rally support for a new government that would continue to serve Shia Iran’s interests.

He has repeatedly condemned the killing of unarmed protesters and has also urged demonstrators to remain peaceful and stop saboteurs turning their opposition violent.

Additional reporting by agencies