Iraqi Forces Capture Criminal Suspects, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 13, 2009 - Iraqi security forces arrested suspected criminals and, while working with U.S. soldiers, seized multiple weapons in operations in Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported. Iraqi security forces arrested nine suspected criminals on local and government warrants during operations to thwart terrorist activities Jan. 10 and 11 in Balad, Iraq. The suspects are believed to be involved in the facilitation and emplacement of homemade bombs, weapons trafficking, kidnapping of local civilians and attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces.

In operations yesterday:

-- Led by a tip from a local civilian, Iraqi and U.S. soldiers found an 82 mm mortar round in the Ghazaliyah community of northwestern Baghdad's Mansour district. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal team removed the round.

-- Iraqi National Police and U.S. soldiers found four rocket-propelled grenades in a field in the Shurta community of southern Baghdad's Rashid district. They moved the weapons to a nearby police headquarters.

-- In Rashid district's Saydiyah community, Iraqi and U.S. soldiers seized two AK-47 assault rifles.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)