ERBIL,— An Iraqi model and social media influencer was found dead in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan region after being strangled and burned, according to local authorities.
The body of Noor Al-Dulaimi, 18, was discovered on a remote roadside in Baharka district, prompting an immediate investigation by Erbil police.
Authorities identified the suspect as a Syrian national, who was arrested within hours of the crime. Police say he admitted to killing Al-Dulaimi in a hotel room before stealing her belongings and setting her body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Al-Dulaimi’s family lost contact with her around 10 p.m. on Monday when her phone was switched off. After several attempts to reach her, they were later informed that her charred remains had been found on a deserted road between Kalkhan village and Baharka district, a sparsely traveled area in Erbil province.
An eyewitness said that the fire was still burning when he arrived. “The flames were intense. All that remained was her hair and bones,” he said.
The Erbil Police Directorate announced on Tuesday that they had taken a suspect into custody. The accused, identified only by his initials (M.B.D.), is a Syrian man of Arab ethnicity.
According to Erbil police spokesperson Karzan Saleh, the suspect and Al-Dulaimi had an argument over money in a hotel room. During the dispute, he allegedly strangled her with an electrical wire, stole her car and gold jewelry, then transported her body to a remote location where he set it on fire.
“Two hours after the incident, we managed to arrest the suspect,” Saleh told Rudaw TV. “He has confessed to the crime, and we have referred him to the relevant court for prosecution under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code.”
Al-Dulaimi’s sisters, Shams and Marwa, questioned how such a crime could have been carried out alone.
“We were told initially that two people were involved—one Kurdish and one Syrian,” Marwa Al-Dulaimi said. “But police later stated that only the Syrian man was involved.”
Shams Al-Dulaimi added, “How could he have done this by himself? Where are the security cameras? How did he lure her, kill her, transport the body, and set it on fire without anyone noticing?”
The victim’s family also raised concerns about the response of the hotel staff. “We asked police if they had questioned the hotel employees, but they said no because the staff was asleep at 2 a.m. How is that possible in a hotel of this size?”
Authorities believe the suspect intended to steal Al-Dulaimi’s car and valuables. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether others were involved.
Al-Dulaimi had been living in Erbil with her sisters for the past eight years. Following a forensic examination, her body was returned to Baghdad, where her family has filed a legal case against the accused.
The Erbil police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and the suspect will remain in custody until he is formally charged in court.
(With files from Rudaw)
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