Yazidi Bombing Mastermind Killed

MOSUL, Iraq (UPI) — The al-Qaida militant thought to have masterminded the bombings of the Yazidi sect in northwestern Iraq has been killed, authorities said Sunday.

Military officials said Abu Muhammad al-Afri, who also used several aliases, was killed in a recent airstrike in a remote area 70 miles southwest of Mosul, Stars and Stripes reported. Close associates and detainees confirmed al-Afri and his driver died in the attack, the military newspaper said.

Al-Afri was thought to have engineered truck bombings that killed about 250 people Aug. 14 in Ninawa Province. Hundreds more were injured in the blasts.

The Yazidis belong to an ancient, primarily Kurdish, religious sect that worships an angel figure some Christians and Muslims believe to be the devil, the newspaper said.