Iraqi, Coalition Forces Detain Criminals, Find Bomb

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 15, 2009 - Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers detained three suspected criminals and discovered a roadside bomb yesterday and Feb. 13 while conducting operations in southern Baghdad's Rashid district, military officials reported. Yesterday, Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers detained a suspected criminal in the Abu T'Shir neighborhood. The suspect, wanted for transporting rockets and planning rocket attacks, had a fake passport. The joint patrol transported the individual to an Iraqi security forces facility for questioning.

On Feb. 13, Iraqi National Police officers and U.S. soldiers arrested a suspected criminal wanted for rocket attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces.

Later that day, police officers and U.S. soldiers arrested a suspected criminal while conducting patrols in the Abu T'Shir community. The patrol noticed the suspect, wanted for terrorist activity in the area, walking south during the Arba'een pilgrimage. After making positive identification, the Iraqi officers detained and transported him to an Iraqi security forces facility for processing.

"Sons of Iraq" civilian security group members, aided by U.S. soldiers, discovered an improvised explosive device Feb. 13 in the Hadar community. A coalition forces explosive ordnance disposal team safely destroyed the bomb.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)