Islamic State executes scores, stockpiles chemicals in Mosul - UN

Record ID: 79245

  • Title: Islamic State executes scores, stockpiles chemicals in Mosul - UN
  • Date: 11th November 2016
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING NEWS BRIEFING ONGOING JOURNALISTS AND U.N. STAFF AT BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "The extent of civilian suffering in Mosul, and other ISIL-occupied areas in Iraq, is numbing and intolerable." U.N. STAFF AT BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "More details are also emerging about the reports of a mass grave containing at last 100 people in an agricultural college building in Hammam al-Alil that was discovered on Monday. Reports suggest that the victims included former ISF (Iraq Security Forces officers and ISIL detainees, as well as people killed for initiating uprisings against ISIL since the beginning of the Mosul operation. The corpses are in various states of decomposition, indicating that ISIL had been using the site as a killing ground for some time. What is clear is that many more mass killings took place in Hammam al-Alil and other locations, with the victims' bodies having been dumped at various locations." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "On Wednesday evening, ISIL reportedly shot to death 20 civilians in the Ghabat Military Base in northern Mosul, on charges of leaking information, and their bodies were also hung at various intersections in Mosul, with notes stating that this was a decision of execution and that they used cell phones to leak information to ISF (Iraq Security Forces). Also on Wednesday, ISIL deployed what it calls 'the sons of the caliphate' in the alleys of the town of Mosul, wearing explosive belts. We're concern that these maybe teenagers and young boys." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR) SPOKESWOMAN, RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "The al-Mishrag Sulphur Gas Factory and Field in the Shura sub-district of Mosul, the factory was set on fire and it was shelled by ISIL, and we already have reports of people who have died from… as a result of the fumes that came out of this factory. We also understand that they are stockpiling in Mosul, that they are stockpiling large quantities of ammonia and sulphur, and that these chemicals are being placed in the same locations as civilians, so this is giving rise to concern." EXTERIOR OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2016 13:05
  • Keywords: Islamic State Mosul mass grave United Nations human rights chemicals executes
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA00158032O7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Islamic State fighters have executed scores more people around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul this week and are reported to be stockpiling dangerous chemicals in civilian areas, the U.N. human rights office said on Friday (November 11).
    A mass grave with over 100 bodies found in the town of Hammam al-Alil was one of several Islamic State killing grounds, spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. She cited testimony gleaned from sources including a man who had survived an execution of some 50 former Iraqi soldiers by playing dead.
    Of the Hammam al-Alil site, Shamdasani said: "Reports suggest that the victims included former ISF (Iraq Security Forces officers and ISIL detainees, as well as people killed for initiating uprisings against ISIL since the beginning of the Mosul operation. The corpses are in various states of decomposition, indicating that ISIL had been using the site as a killing ground for some time."
    "What is clear is that many more mass killings took place in Hammam al-Alil and other locations, with the victims' bodies having been dumped at various locations," she added, mentioning sites at Mosul airport and the village of Tal al-Thahab.
    The U.N.'s sources of information include people living in IS-held areas who risk their lives to speak out.
    Shamdasani said 40 civilians were reportedly shot on Tuesday (November 8) for "treason and collaboration" with Iraqi government forces, and their bodies hung from electrical poles around Mosul.
    The same day a 27-year-old man was shot for using a mobile phone, Shamdasani said. Six others had been hanged on Oct. 20 for hiding SIM cards, and 20 more were reportedly shot on Wednesday (November 9) for leaking information to the Iraqi security forces.
    She added that Islamic State had deployed what it calls "sons of the caliphate" wearing explosive belts in the alleys of Old Mosul, and the U.N. had unconfirmed reports that they were teenagers and young boys.
    Iraqi troops had found large stockpiles of sulphur and there were credible reports that Islamic State had used "phosphor projectiles" over Qayyara, close to Mosul, Shamdasani said.
    The U.N. had also verified an IS propaganda video showing four children, purportedly including one Russian and one Uzbek, executing four people for spying.
    Shamdasani said the U.N. had information that abducted women, including from the Yazidi minority, were being "distributed" to fighters or told they would be used to accompany Islamic State convoys, raising concerns over possible "war crimes, crimes against humanity, even genocide".
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