U.S., Iraqi Forces Capture Suspected Bombers, Other Terrorists

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 5, 2009 - U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces nabbed two bombing suspects, as well as nine other suspected terrorists, in operations in Iraq over the past three days. U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces detained two suspected terrorists yesterday at the scene of an explosion in the Masafee community of Baghdad's Rashid district. The men are suspected of setting off two homemade bombs. No injuries were reported.

In other operations yesterday:

-- U.S. soldiers and Iraqi security forces seized a "sticky" bomb attached to a car in Baghdad's Rashid district. The makeshift magnetic bomb was attached to the undercarriage of a vehicle belonging to a "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group leader. An Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal unit disposed of the bomb.

-- U.S. and Iraqi soldiers confiscated an improvised explosive device in Baghdad's Adhamiyah district. An Iraqi EOD team detonated the device.

In Jan. 3 operations:

-- A Kut special weapons and tactics team arrested two suspected criminals in Numaniyah, southeast of Baghdad. One of the suspects is believed to be responsible for attacks against coalition forces in Wasit province.

-- Hillah SWAT personnel arrested a man suspected of attacks against coalition and Iraqi security forces.

-- Ramadi SWAT personnel nabbed a suspect accused of drug dealing, weapons smuggling and counterfeiting U.S. currency in Tameem, east of Baghdad.

-- In Najaf, south of Baghdad, Iraqi soldiers arrested two suspected terrorists, including an alleged criminal cell leader believed to be responsible for bombing attacks on coalition convoys in the Manathera area.

-- In Maysan province, U.S. and Iraqi soldiers detained three suspects and seized a weapons cache that included 58 81 mm mortar rounds, three ammunition cans of 7.62 mm rounds, two AK-47 assault rifles, two shotguns, a .50-caliber sniper rifle, a 7.62 mm sniper rifle, a pistol, a can of .50-caliber rounds and kit for making a bomb specifically designed to pierce armored vehicles.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)