OIF Summary, Dec. 4, 2009: Forces in Iraq Arrest 6 Terrorism Suspects

Dispatches from the Front:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2009 -- Iraqi security forces arrested six terrorism suspects in recent days, military officials reported.

In northwestern Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi security forces arrested three people during a combined operation conducted to find and arrest a suspected member of an explosives cell affiliated with the Jaysh al-Mahdi terrorist organization.

Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a home for the alleged explosives cell member, who is believed to be staging attacks against security forces in the region. Based on preliminary questioning and evidence discovered at the scene, they arrested three people suspected of being criminal associates of the targeted cell member, who was not apprehended.

Also yesterday, Iraqi forces arrested two people in Abu Ghraib during a combined operation conducted to find and arrest an alleged al-Qaida in Iraq explosives expert believed to be building vehicle-borne bombs and planning deadly attacks in Baghdad and Anbar province.

Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched a home looking for the suspect, and though they did not locate him, they arrested two people suspected of criminal activity based on preliminary questioning and evidence discovered on the premises.

In Baghdad on Dec. 2, Iraqi forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained a suspected weapons trafficker. Acting on a warrant issued out of Bayaa, U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police conducted a combined mission and seized various weapons, electronic devices and records.

The suspect is believed to be responsible for selling weapons to various terrorist groups throughout the Baghdad area. Iraqi forces transported him to a nearby headquarters for further questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)