Iraqis Bring US Lawsuit Against Blackwater

Shooting victims accuse security firm of promoting 'lawlessness'
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 11, 2007 5:07 PM CDT
Iraqis Bring US Lawsuit Against Blackwater
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, before the House Oversight Committee hearing examining the mission and performance of the private military contractor Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photos/Susan Walsh)   (Associated Press)

Saying the security firm committed "extrajudicial killings and war crimes" in a Baghdad firefight, one injured man and the relatives of three other Iraqis killed last month are suing Blackwater in US federal court. An advocacy group filed the suit today, Reuters reports, seeking compensatory and punitive damages while saying the firm embraced a lawless corporate culture for the sake of profit.

The Iraqi government accuses Blackwater employees of purposefully killing the 17 civilians who died in the Sept. 16 incident, but Blackwater founder Erik Prince defends the firm. The advocacy group hopes Prince will testify in the new case.  "We look forward to forcing Blackwater and Mr. Prince to tell the world under oath why this attack happened," one attorney said. (More security firms stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X