Coalition Forces Detain Suspects in Mosul, Baghdad

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 2, 2008 - Coalition forces in Iraq captured seven terrorism suspects, including two wanted men, in operations today, military officials reported. Coalition forces, acting on tips from individuals already in custody, captured a wanted man and two additional suspects in Mosul. The wanted man is believed to be developing technology to impede coalition forces' ability to detect car bombs and other improvised explosive devices, officials said. Intelligence reports also suggest that the man is using his business as a cover for al-Qaida money-laundering activities.

In Baghdad, coalition forces captured another wanted man believed to provide a hideout for senior al-Qaida operatives in the city. The man, who identified himself to forces during the operation, was detained with two additional suspects.

Soldiers from Company D, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, arrested a suspected Iranian-backed illegal militia member for the shooting of a coalition soldier last year and sectarian killings in Baghdad's Bayaa neighborhood.

In operations yesterday, 4th Infantry Division soldiers of Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, arrested a man suspected of intimidation attacks against Iraqi citizens in southeastern Baghdad's Hadar community. The patrol took the suspect to a coalition combat outpost for questioning.

Also yesterday, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained a suspect and seized weapons caches throughout Baghdad.

Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, detained a suspect in the Abu Tshir community of southern Baghdad's Rashid district and took him to a combat outpost for further questioning.

Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division's Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, seized 51 30 mm projectiles, an 85 mm heat rocket, two 70 mm heat rockets, three PG-7 propellant sticks, a 500-foot spool of copper wire, 137 rounds of 7.62 mm small-arms ammunition, 75 rounds of 9 mm small-arms ammunition, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a Dragonov rifle in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib area.

Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, seized three AK-47 assault rifles, 13 AK-47 magazines and a timer while on patrol in Baghdad's West Rashid area.

In operations Sept. 30:

-- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and Iraqi National Police discovered 32 60 mm mortar rounds, five 81 mm mortar rounds, two grenades, five anti-personnel rocket propelled grenades and an anti-armor RPG in the Hayy Aamel neighborhood of Baghdad's Rashid district.

-- Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, detained a suspect believed to be associated with an IED cell in southern Baghdad's Masafee community.

-- Soldiers of Company C, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, detained a man during an operation in Rashid's Saydiyah community.

-- Based on a tip from a local citizen, Iraqi soldiers and soldiers serving with the 101st Airborne Division's Company B, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, found a cache buried in a 55-gallon drum in Baghdad's Kadhamiyah district. The munitions included five machine guns, three assault rifles and 18 bags of small armament parts.

-- Iraqi commandos found two half-buried 120 mm Russian-manufactured artillery rounds west of Baghdad.

In operations Sept. 29:

-- In New Baghdad, Iraqi special operations forces captured a suspected criminal cell leader believed to have ties with senior members of criminal groups in Sadr City. The individual is said to be associated with indirect-fire attacks and attacks using roadside bombs designed to pierce armor-hulled vehicles on Iraqi and coalition forces, officials said. The suspect also is said to be a medic who operates clinics where he treats wounded criminals. One other individual was detained during the operation.

-- In the Aziziyah area, Iraqi soldiers captured a man believed to be a facilitator and financier who also provided a safe haven for criminal elements. He also is believed to be the father of an bombing cell member who conducted an attack in August 2007 that killed two U.S. Special Forces soldiers and wounded two others. During the operation, Iraqi soldiers uncovered a weapons cache consisting of eight grenades, an AK-47 with seven magazines, and IED-making materials. Two other individuals were detained during the operation.

-- In Qurna, Iraqi special operations forces captured a suspected mid-level criminal leader who operates in Baghdad's Dur area.

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