Coalition Forces Detain 13 Suspects; Detainee Dies in Camp Bucca

American Forces Press Service

April 27, 2007 – In operations throughout Iraq today, coalition forces detained 13 suspected terrorists, military officials reported. Also, a detainee died yesterday at Camp Bucca, Iraq. Nine suspected terrorists are in coalition forces custody today after raids to disrupt al Qaeda in Iraq operations around the country.

-- Near Salman Pak, coalition forces detained a suspected terrorist known to associate with al Qaeda in Iraq and lead a group responsible for kidnapping Iraqis.

-- Coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists in Mosul who are allegedly involved in a group responsible for making and using car bombs and attacks on the Iraqi army, Iraqi police and coalition forces.

-- In Baghdad, coalition forces detained an individual suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign fighters and bomb-making materials.

-- Two suspected terrorists were detained near Ramadi when coalition forces found them with weapons and materials used in making improvised explosive devices.

"Coalition forces are continuing to disrupt the networks that make and use deadly IEDs to harm Iraqis and those who are trying to build a stable Iraq," said Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

In another operation, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists today in Sadr City.

The individuals targeted during the raid are suspected members of a secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training, officials said.

Intelligence reports also indicate the secret cell has ties to a kidnapping network that conducts attacks within Iraq.

"Individuals coming into Iraq from other countries for the purpose of endangering Iraqi civilians and disrupting security won't be tolerated," Garver said. "We will continue to work diligently to rid Iraq of foreign terrorists trying to thwart the development of a stable and peaceful Iraq."

In other news, a security detainee died yesterday at Camp Bucca, Iraq, from injuries suffered during an apparent assault by other detainees.

An investigation is pending to determine the cause of death, a standard procedure for detainees who die while in custody of the Multinational Force Iraq, officials said. The family will receive the remains upon completion of the investigation into his death.

More than 19,000 detainees are held in two MNF-I theater internment facilities in Iraq. In the past year, six detainees have died in MNF-I facilities as a result of detainee-on-detainee violence, officials said.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.