Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080503-07
May 3, 2008

Iraqi Army soldiers detain two terrorist cell leaders
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Soldiers with the 5th Iraqi Army Division, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained two suspected terrorist cell leaders in the village of Thebania, approximately 200 miles north of Baghdad May 2.

Iraqi Army soldiers conducted an operation at approximately 11:30 p.m. May 1, to detain the two targeted individuals and disrupt terrorist activities and illegal smuggling in Mosul.  Both men are believed to be mid-level leaders of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, which is a front organization for al-Qaeda in Iraq. 

One suspect is reported to have been leading attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. His cell is linked to an attack on Coalition forces in September 2007. The other suspect is believed to be a weapons smuggler and is reported to help facilitate improvised explosive device attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces. Two additional suspects were detained and are being held for further questioning.

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR HIGH-RES PHOTOS, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .