The Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said on its official Facebook page that Mazloum Dag, whose name and photo were released on Thursday, had been arrested by the Erbil Asayish Directorate and the CTD on Saturday.

Later, the Kurdistan Regional Government released a brief statement characterizing Dag as the “main perpetrator responsible for the Erbil restaurant shooting.”

“We commend the security forces, counter-terrorism unit, and people of Kurdistan, and ensure that operations will continue until all individuals involved in the shooting are arrested and brought to justice.”

Dag was identified as the brother of a lawmaker in the Turkish Parliament from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP). After the link was made, the party released a statement condemning the murders and cautioning the Turkish authorities against using the relationship to take action against their MP.

Later, CTD announced that it had a second person in custody, who was named as Muhammad Bisksiz. He was described as an accomplice and was also arrested on Saturday.

Neither CTD or the KRG have released details about their arrests.

Three people, including a Turkish diplomat, were shot dead in the Empire neighborhood of the Kurdistan Region's capital on Wednesday afternoon.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the killings, which were condemned by Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, Turkey, and the international community.

Reporter’s code: 50101