Iraqi Soldiers Pray for Victims Killed by IS in Tikrit

Iraqi soldiers and militiamen laid flowers to pray for those slaughtered by the Islamic State (IS) extremists in the northern city of Tikrit after retaking the city last month. A gravestone has been established along the bank of Tigris in Tikrit to commemorate those killed by the extremists during their control of the city. Many soldiers and Shiite militiamen came to the gravestone to lay flowers and pray for their peers. From the beginning of this month, the Iraqi authorities have started to retrieve and identify the bodies of the Iraqis who have been captured and shot dead by IS militants. Up to 12 large burial grounds have been found and some of their belongings were seen lying on the ground such as shoes and clothes. Initial investigation shows that the extremists have taken more than 1,700 captives to the dilapidated palace complexes in Tikrit and executed them by shooting in several locations. However, the total death toll is feared to be even higher. Many of the captives were killed and tossed into the river, which make it hard to retrieve their bodies. "The IS extremists brought 500 captive soldiers here, and made them to line up here in a group of ten. They started shooting at their heads and then tossed their bodies into the river. They did the killing in tens. Among the killed captives were young volunteer soldiers and students, mostly young people," recalled a militiaman named Ahmed Abd Ali. "There are 700 people missing at the moment, and we don’t have any idea of their whereabouts. I think these people should also be counted as martyrs. Even though we've retaken this city of Tikrit, we still don’t know where they are. So I guess the death toll here could be up to 2,000, even higher," said Dhargam Al-Jubouri, another militiaman. "I’ll continue to fight, fight till the end of my life. I won’t stop. I swear on my life that I will rescue the people who are persecuted by the IS extremists," said Ali. Iraq announced on March 31 that its forces have retaken the northern city of Tikrit, which was seized by IS extremists last June. Subscribe us on Youtube:    / @cctvvideonewsagency   CCTV+ official website: http://newscontent.cctv.com/ LinkedIn:   / cctv-news-content   Facebook:   / 756877521031964   Twitter:   / newscontentplus