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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080119-03
January 19, 2008

MND-North Soldiers capture Baquba extremist cell leader

Multi-National Division – North PAO

BAQUBA, Iraq – Multi-National Division – North Soldiers detained a suspected IED and suicide-bomb cell leader during a targeted raid in Baquba Jan. 16.

The suspect is linked to an extremist network spanning from Baquba to Samarra and his cell is allegedly responsible for recent IED activity in the Baquba market, Amin School, and the Jan. 9 house-borne improvised explosive device that resulted in the death of six U.S. Soldiers.

The suspect is also believed to be linked to a Syrian suicide-bombing facilitator and recent intelligence reports indicate he has requested suicide bombers from Mosul.

Soldiers from Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division captured the suspect with an AK-47 and extended magazine.

“(The suspect) is tied into the suicide-vest cell in old Baquba that we have been targeting, and this capture should lead to the arrest of several more members of this suicide cell,” said Capt. Andy Padden, 2-12 Field Artillery. “Taking him off the streets will likely lower the amount of IEDs in all of Diyala province.”

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR DSN 318-856-0218