Brazen kidnappings
The week's news at a glance.
Baghdad
Men dressed as cops kidnapped 50 people from a bus depot in Baghdad this week. Dozens of gunmen swooped into the offices of several transport firms and began grabbing passengers, employees, and even street vendors. They put bags over the captives’ heads and loaded them into pickup trucks. The whole operation took minutes. Witnesses said the gunmen were dressed in police uniforms, easily purchasable around Baghdad, and wearing ski masks. Kidnapping is reaching epidemic proportions in Iraq. Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, more than 400 foreigners and up to 10,000 Iraqis have been abducted. Nearly 20 percent of those taken are killed.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The bougie foods causing international shortages
In the Spotlight Pistachios join avocados and matcha on list of social media-driven crazes that put strain on supply chains and environment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Strep infections are rising in the US
Under the radar The cases have more than doubled in 10 years
By Devika Rao, The Week US
-
Crossword: April 22, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff