Iraqi, U.S. Forces Detain Suspected Criminals, Find Bomb, Weapons

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2009 - Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers detained suspected criminals, averted a bomb attack and seized a mortar cache in Iraq over the past three days, military officials reported. Iraqi security forces, aided by Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers, detained three suspected criminals yesterday and Feb. 24 in southern Baghdad's Rashid district.

In Baghdad's Shurta community yesterday, Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers used a Baghdad Operations Center warrant to detain a suspected criminal accused of terrorist activities.

The combined forces moved the suspect to a detention facility for questioning.

Acting on a tip from an Iraqi civilian Feb. 24, Iraqi National Police captured two suspected bomb makers in possession of more than 70 timers, a remote control, 13 batteries, a soldering gun, a silicon glue gun, a videocassette recorder and a laptop computer. U.S. soldiers responded to assist in the investigation.

Iraqi National Police transported the suspects to a nearby headquarters for processing.

In southern Baghdad's Rashid district, Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers discovered a mortar cache and defused a bomb Feb. 23.

Acting on a tip from a "Sons of Iraq" civilian security group volunteer, Iraqi National Police and U.S. soldiers seized a cache containing four 81 mm mortar rounds and 15 60 mm mortar rounds in Bayaa neighborhood.

Later that day in the Zubaida area, Sons of Iraq members and U.S. soldiers found a bomb attached to the undercarriage of a local Sons of Iraq leader's vehicle.

A coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal unit responded to the scene to defuse the bomb.

No injuries or damages were reported.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)