Blackwater faces sixth suit for shootings

MOYOCK, N.C., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A group of Iraqis filed suit against Blackwater stemming from an incident of guards driving through the streets of Baghdad randomly shooting innocent people.

The suit accuses Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, of orchestrating murders from his 24-hour remote monitoring "war room" and the Moyock, N.C., headquarters of the private military company, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reported.

Prince "personally directed and permitted a heavily armed private army ... to roam the streets of Baghdad killing innocent civilians," the suit says.

The suit alleges Prince knew his employees, including top executives considered shooting innocent Iraqis sport. Other statements in the suit said top executives discussed "laying Haijis out on cardboard" and "bragged about their collective role in killing those of the Islamic faith."

This is the sixth civil suit brought against Prince and Blackwater, now known as Xe. It was filed in connection with a Sept. 9, 2007, incident when Blackwater employees allegedly shot citizens through the porthole of an armored vehicle.

Company officials would not comment on the suit.