Coalition Troops in Iraq Detain 11 al Qaeda Suspects

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 11, 2008 - Coalition forces today detained 11 suspected terrorists during operations targeting al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq, military officials reported. In Tikrit, coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist linked to al Qaeda media and propaganda operations and facilitating insurgent movements in the area. Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists and found numerous media materials. In Mosul, coalition forces detained nine suspected terrorists while targeting a suspected associate of an al Qaeda senior leader.

"As Iraqi and coalition forces continue to target al Qaeda at every level of their network, the Iraqi people are rejecting their senseless and barbaric attacks," said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.

In yesterday's Iraq operations north of Samarra, coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of an al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist operating in the area. The suspect is linked to numerous terrorist leaders operating in Salahuddin province. Two armed terrorists were killed during the operation, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest. Numerous explosives and weapons were confiscated.

Also yesterday, coalition forces captured a suspected "special groups" facilitator during anti-insurgent operations in the Baghdad area. The detainee allegedly showed insurgents how to make and employ armor-piercing explosively formed penetrators. He also reportedly arranged for the transportation and storage of roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades. The detainee is linked to several other senior-level criminal leaders implicated in attacks on coalition forces.

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