‘550 families are IS human shields in Mosul’

Islamic State (IS) militants have overpowered 550 families from villages around Mosul and are holding them close to tyhe outfit’s locations in the Iraqi city, probably as human shields, a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office said on Friday.

UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, citing “corroborated information” from the area, said the office was also investigating reports that Islamic State militants had killed 40 civilians in one village.