Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Iraqi Police Capture Suspected Terrorist Leaders

American Forces Press Service

March 10, 2010 - Iraqi police captured four suspected al-Qaida in Iraq members today, two of whom are alleged leaders in the terrorist organization for the central Diyala province and Kirkuk regions.

Police captured the suspects in two separate combined operations with U.S. advisors in northern Iraq.

Both operations were conducted in accordance with the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement and in coordination with the Iraqi government, officials said.

In Beiji, southwest of Kirkuk, police and U.S. advisors searched three buildings for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader for central Diyala province who is believed to recruit and train new fighters, stage attacks and facilitate transport of weapons into Iraq from other countries.

As the security team approached the first building to be searched, two suspects ran out and were apprehended without incident.

After preliminary questioning and examination of evidence, police identified and arrested the suspected al-Qaida in Iraq leader and two suspected criminal associates.

During a second operation conducted in a rural area southwest of Kirkuk, Iraqi police and U.S. advisors searched a building for a suspected leader of al-Qaida in Iraq for the Kirkuk region who is believed to be responsible for ordering assassinations of government employees to disrupt the March 7 elections.

Information and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi police to identify and arrest the wanted man.

(From a U.S. Forces Iraq news release.)

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