Baghdad mob kills teen gunman and strings up his corpse

Anti-government protesters hold a huge Iraqi flag as they gather in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. A gunman shot dead several people, including four protesters, Thursday provoking some anti-government demonstrators to disarm and hang him in a central Baghdad square, security and health officials said. The incident was condemned by the wider protest movement based in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who said the individuals who killed the gunman were not part of their peaceful demonstrations. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) Anti-government protesters hold a huge Iraqi flag as they gather in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. A gunman shot dead several people, including four protesters, Thursday provoking some anti-government demonstrators to disarm and hang him in a central Baghdad square, security and health officials said. The incident was condemned by the wider protest movement based in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who said the individuals who killed the gunman were not part of their peaceful demonstrations. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

By SAMYA KULLAB and MURTADA FARAJ / Associated Press December 12, 2019 3 min read

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Baghdad killing

People pass by a Christmas tree with portraits of anti-government protesters who killed under fire from security forces in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. A gunman shot dead several people, including four protesters, Thursday provoking some anti-government demonstrators to disarm and hang him in a central Baghdad square, security and health officials said. The incident was condemned by the wider protest movement based in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who said the individuals who killed the gunman were not part of their peaceful demonstrations. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Posters of Anti-government protesters who have been killed in demonstrations are displayed in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. A gunman shot dead several people, including four protesters, Thursday provoking some anti-government demonstrators to disarm and hang him in a central Baghdad square, security and health officials said. The incident was condemned by the wider protest movement based in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who said the individuals who killed the gunman were not part of their peaceful demonstrations. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

An anti-government protester poses for a picture while holding a national flag during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. A gunman shot dead several people, including four protesters, Thursday provoking some anti-government demonstrators to disarm and hang him in a central Baghdad square, security and health officials said. The incident was condemned by the wider protest movement based in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the movement, who said the individuals who killed the gunman were not part of their peaceful demonstrations. The Arabic on his shirt reads, "We want a homeland." (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Anti-government protesters gather in Tahrir Square during ongoing protests in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Deliberate killings, abduction and arbitrary detention are among abuses that continue against Iraqi anti-government demonstrators by unknown groups, according to a U.N. report released Wednesday. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

BAGHDAD (AP) – An angry mob killed a 16-year-old and strung up the corpse by its feet from a traffic pole after the teen shot and killed six people Thursday, including four anti-government protesters, Iraqi officials said.

Dozens of people pointed their cellphones at the body dangling high above them in a central Baghdad square. Videos circulating on social media showed the young man being beaten and dragged across the street.

The violence underscored the growing fears and suspicions swirling around the 8-week-old protest movement, which engulfed Iraq on Oct. 1 when thousands took to the streets to decry government corruption, poor services and scarcity of jobs.

A string of mysterious acts of bloodshed by unknown groups has put anti-government protesters on edge and eroded their faith in the ability of state security forces to protect them.

Last Friday, 25 protesters were killed when gunmen in pickup trucks opened fire in Baghdad’s Khilani Square. That same week, mysterious knife attacks targeted over a dozen anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square, the hub of the protest movement.