Masked gunmen killed three jewelers during a robbery in the southern city of Basra.



According to AP, Police and hospital officials said that six gunmen stormed into three gold jewelry shops in Basra, killed the owners, wounded two people, then fled with a large amount of jewelry.



A similar robbery spree in Baghdad two weeks ago, left 15 people dead.



Security officials attribute at least part of the crime wave to terror groups looking for new ways to finance their operations.