Three Iraqi Christians were kidnapped and led to an unknown destination by a group of gunmen during a hunting trip southern Kirkuk, a source from Kirkuk police reported on Wednesday. Security forces are looking for the missing men, the source added.

“A group of gunmen kidnapped on Wednesday night three Christian citizens near Fakhira village of Daquq district southern Kirkuk,” the source told Alsumarianews. “The three men were on their way back from a hunting trip in Daquq, 30 km southern Kirkuk,” the source explained.

“Gunmen in a modern vehicle blocked the Christians’ way, set their white Land rover afire, killed their hunting dogs and led them to an unknown destination,” reported the source speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The kidnapped originally from Arfa northern Kirkuk go on regular hunting trips,” the source added.

“Iraqi police and army mobilized their troops and launched a search campaign looking for the three kidnapped Christians,” the source added.
A car bomb exploded in August near a church in central Kirkuk, wounding 19 civilians among them five Christians. Anti-explosives unit force on the other hand managed to detonate a car bomb near the Evangelist Church at Almas region, central Kirkuk.

Alsumaria