OIF Summary, Oct.16, 2009: Iraqi Forces Hunt al-Qaida, Nab 6 Terrorism Suspects

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2009 -- Iraqi security forces, working with U.S. advisors, arrested six terrorism suspects today and yesterday in four operations in Iraq, military officials reported.

During a security operation in Kirkuk today, an Iraqi emergency services unit arrested two suspects while searching for a vehicle-bomb network member with ties to al-Qaida in Iraq. The security team questioned two suspects during a building search and arrested them after determining they posed a threat to the community.

Near Muqdaadiyah, northeast of Baghdad, Iraqi police arrested two suspects today during another security operation. The security team encountered and questioned the suspects while searching for a man known to have close ties to leaders of both al-Qaida in Iraq and the Islamic State of Iraq terrorist group.

In Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi police arrested a suspected Baghdad-based al-Qaida in Iraq leader believed to have transported large quantities of explosives into Iraq to facilitate large-scale attacks in urban areas. Intelligence reports indicate he also helped to bring foreign fighters into Iraq to stage attacks against civilians and security forces. The suspect also allegedly is involved in kidnapping, document forgery and other criminal activity, officials said.

In a separate operation yesterday, Iraqi soldiers searched two buildings in western Mosul for a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq cell leader operating in the area. Based on evidence found during the search, they arrested a man identified as a criminal accomplice suspected of smuggling Syrian foreign fighters into Iraq to carry out attacks against Iraqi and U.S. forces.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq news releases.)