Internal Forces pledge accountability for killing of child in Raqqa

The General Command of the Internal Security Forces – North and East Syria issued a statement today to the public regarding the incident in which a child was shot at one of the security checkpoints. The statement read:

“Our forces express their deep sorrow and pain over the unfortunate incident that took place on Wednesday, July 2, at one of our security checkpoints in the city of Raqqa, which – with great sadness – resulted in the child, Ali Abbas Al-Ouni, being shot and subsequently losing his life.

Our forces affirm that this act in no way represents the values and principles of our security institution, which was founded on the protection and safety of civilians, especially children.

It is worth noting that one of our members, who is responsible for this regrettable act, fled service immediately after the incident. Since the very first moment, our forces have been tracking and pursuing him using all available means, in preparation for his capture and to bring him to justice in accordance with the law.

We would like to clarify that, from the moment this member fled his duties, the General Command of the Internal Security Forces launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Information is currently being gathered and investigations are underway to determine whether the act was premeditated or instigated by hostile entities seeking to incite unrest against the Autonomous Administration and our security forces.

We also point out that the orchestrated media campaign adopted by some hostile media outlets, which accompanied the incident simultaneously, has heightened suspicions about the possibility of a pre-planned killing. This may have involved the calculated use of an individual to sow chaos, undermine security, and provoke local discord.

Accordingly, we reaffirm our commitment to taking all necessary measures based on the investigation’s findings to ensure the continued security and stability of our regions.

In this painful moment, we once again affirm our full commitment to transparency and accountability, and that any violation or breach of ethical or legal standards by our members will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the child’s family, praying that God grants them patience and solace, and we assure them that justice will be served and the perpetrator will be held fully accountable.”

A-H 

ANHA