Gunmen kidnap at least 24 Iraqis in Baghdad

Three groups of gunmen kidnapped at least 24 Iraqis working at a money exchange house and two electronics stores in Baghdad today, the interior ministry said.

The assaults happened separately, but within the same half-hour period.

Fifteen gunmen wearing military uniforms stormed the Moussa Bin Nasir Exchange in south-west Baghdad’s Harthiyah neighbourhood at about 1pm local time, kidnapping six people and stealing tens of thousands of dollars, said police Lt. Col. Ali Rashid.