A knife attack during Assyrian New Year celebrations in Duhok, northern Iraq, resulted in injuries to two individuals, including a woman in her 60s, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

 

The assailant, who has been arrested, is reported to be Syrian. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident is linked to terrorism. Kurdish internal security forces, known as Asayish, are currently investigating the details surrounding the attack, which is considered rare in the region.

 

According to a police source, the attack occurred in a market and targeted participants of the Akitu spring festival, a celebration that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and is still observed by Assyrian Christians as their New Year.

 

The Duhok Health Directorate released a statement indicating that a 25-year-old man sustained minor injuries to his scalp, while the 65-year-old woman suffered a blow to her head, resulting in some bleeding. Both victims are receiving medical care, and the woman's condition is reported to be stable.

 

Duhok Governor Ali Teter confirmed that security forces apprehended the suspect and stated, “Investigations are ongoing, and we will announce the results after the investigation is complete.”

 

Once home to over 1.5 million Christians before the US invasion in 2003, Iraq now has an estimated 400,000 Christians out of a total population of approximately 46 million. The Christian community has faced significant challenges, particularly during the rise of Daesh, which controlled vast territories in Iraq from 2014 to 2017.