Iraqi official flees angry mob after ferryboat tragedy

By Serhad Shakir

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) - A governor's convoy on Friday ran over two people while fleeing an angry mob in the city of Mosul, regional capital of Iraq’s northern Nineveh province, following Thursday's deadly ferryboat accident in which scores of people lost their lives.

At least 103 people were killed Thursday evening when a ferryboat carrying roughly 200 passengers sank in the Tigris River near Mosul.

Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that angry local residents, including several relatives of the victims, chanted slogans and hurled stones at Nineveh Governor Nofal al-Akoub following his arrival to the site of the accident.

As al-Akoub’s convoy attempted to flee the scene, two people -- both relatives of the victims -- were run over in the confusion, according to witnesses.

The extent of their injuries remains unknown.

Notably, earlier this month, an Iraqi parliamentary committee had called for al-Akoub’s suspension after he was accused of corruption.

According to Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, nine people have been detained so far in connection with the ferryboat incident, for which Baghdad has declared three days of national mourning.

Local residents, for their part, attribute the deadly accident to overcrowding, saying the ill-fated ferryboat had only a 50-passenger capacity.