Iraqi, U.S. Soldiers Capture Bomb Suspects, Seize Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 29, 2009 - Joint operations by Iraqi and U.S. soldiers in Iraq's Maysan province led to the Jan. 23 capture of five suspects accused of planting and detonating a roadside bomb meant for coalition troops. Iraqi and U.S. soldiers were conducting joint-security operations in the city of Amarah and the southern town of Qalat Salah when Iraqi officials say the suspects placed and detonated an explosive device in an effort to quell the operations.

Iraqi soldiers responded quickly by gathering evidence from their intelligence network to find who was responsible for the blast.

Within hours, the Iraqi army's intelligence cell identified the triggerman and set up a raid on a house that resulted in his capture. When questioned, the detainee confessed to being responsible for the crime.

The explosion did not have a major impact on the original mission to disrupt finances supplied to terror cells, officials said.

In conjunction with Iraqi investigators, U.S. military and law enforcement personnel are preparing evidence and procedures to make sure the suspect is brought to justice by an Iraqi court.

In another joint operation, U.S. and Iraqi soldiers seized weapons in Baghdad Jan. 27 that included two AK-47 assault rifles, an 82 mm mortar round, a 60 mm mortar round, a rocket-propelled grenade and a 22 mm anti-aircraft round. A coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal team responded to handle the munitions.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)