Iraqi Forces Arrest Terrorist Trainers

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 25, 2010 - Iraqi special operations forces with U.S. advisors arrested four suspected terrorists wanted on warrants southeast of Baghdad today. The suspects allegedly are affiliated with an al-Qaida terrorist cell in central Iraq. They are wanted for conducting attacks against Iraqi civilians and U.S. forces, as well as training suicide bombers.

Two of the suspects were women believed to be training to conduct suicide missions using car bombs.

In other operations today, Iraqi security forces arrested two suspected terrorists during a combined operation in southeastern Baghdad to arrest a terrorist cell leader. The cell leader is suspected of kidnappings and assassinations targeting security forces and government leaders.

Elsewhere, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors arrested four suspects while searching two homes for the man believed to have been involved in planning car-bomb attacks. A man who attempted to flee into another building later was caught by the security team.

In operations yesterday:

-- Northwest of Mosul, Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors searched a home for a suspected explosives cell leader. Based on the results of preliminary questioning and evidence collected at the scene, troops arrested four suspected criminal associates of the warranted individual.

-- Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected al-Qaida member responsible for arranging meetings for high-level members of the terrorist group northeast of Baghdad. Soldiers found an assault rifle, nine ammunition magazines and a hand grenade hidden in the building.

In operations Jan. 23:

-- Iraqi troops and U.S. advisors searched a home northeast of Baghdad for a suspected al-Qaida cell member believed to be involved in placing car bombs and kidnappings in the region. After questioning the occupants and collecting evidence, forces arrested the wanted individual and two suspected criminal accomplices.

-- Iraqi soldiers and U.S. advisors searched a building for an al-Qaida member believed to be involved in explosive attacks, assassinations and kidnappings northeast of Baghdad. Three suspected criminal associates were arrested on site.

-- Iraqi security forces captured a suspected senior terrorist cell member and two suspected criminal accomplices during a joint security operation conducted in northeastern Baghdad. The cell member is suspected of coordinating attacks for the terrorist group throughout the city.

(Compiled from U.S. Forces Iraq news releases.)