Blackwater Agent:
2007 Iraq Carnage Unprovoked
BAGHDAD (Press TV) – A former guard of US mercenary firm Blackwater has testified that he and his colleagues massacred Iraqi civilians at a Baghdad square in 2007 without any security reason.
In September 2007, Blackwater guards killed several Iraqis at Baghdad's Nisour Square, prompting the Iraqi government to expel the infamous security firm.
Jeremy Ridgeway told a jury that despite his colleagues’ statements, he saw neither any Iraqis pointing guns, nor any muzzle flashes in the distance before they attacked the crowd in Nisour Square.
Ridgeway noted that after some of the Blackwater guards opened fire from their convoy of four heavily armed vehicles, most of the Iraqis in the area were fleeing for their lives, running away from, rather than toward the guards.
This is while Ridgeway’s colleagues have stated that they acted in self-defense, as they believed they were under attack by insurgents.
The mentioned Blackwater guards are charged in the deaths of 14 Iraqis in the shooting, however, original reports say that 17 people were killed in the incident.
Ridgeway has pleaded guilty to voluntary and attempted manslaughter.
Three of his ex-colleagues are likely to be sentenced to imprisonment for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years on charges of voluntary manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and gun violations if convicted. A fourth culprit, Nicholas Slatten, is charged with first-degree murder.
Blackwater guards are infamous for applying aggressive tactics when defending American diplomats and visiting officials in Iraq. They were involved in a series of deadly shooting incidents that infuriated Iraqi citizens and the government.
The company was involved in America's assassination drone program. Former company officials said that a few dozen employees maintained drones armed with Hellfire missiles in Pakistan preparing them to launch attacks.
Blackwater mercenaries also trained "hit teams” for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for operations across the world.
Jeremy Ridgeway told a jury that despite his colleagues’ statements, he saw neither any Iraqis pointing guns, nor any muzzle flashes in the distance before they attacked the crowd in Nisour Square.
Ridgeway noted that after some of the Blackwater guards opened fire from their convoy of four heavily armed vehicles, most of the Iraqis in the area were fleeing for their lives, running away from, rather than toward the guards.
This is while Ridgeway’s colleagues have stated that they acted in self-defense, as they believed they were under attack by insurgents.
The mentioned Blackwater guards are charged in the deaths of 14 Iraqis in the shooting, however, original reports say that 17 people were killed in the incident.
Ridgeway has pleaded guilty to voluntary and attempted manslaughter.
Three of his ex-colleagues are likely to be sentenced to imprisonment for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years on charges of voluntary manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and gun violations if convicted. A fourth culprit, Nicholas Slatten, is charged with first-degree murder.
Blackwater guards are infamous for applying aggressive tactics when defending American diplomats and visiting officials in Iraq. They were involved in a series of deadly shooting incidents that infuriated Iraqi citizens and the government.
The company was involved in America's assassination drone program. Former company officials said that a few dozen employees maintained drones armed with Hellfire missiles in Pakistan preparing them to launch attacks.
Blackwater mercenaries also trained "hit teams” for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for operations across the world.