Beheading mastermind captured in Fallujah

The leader of a militant group involved in beheading hostages has been captured in Fallujah and the group was broken up, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said tonight.

He identified the group as Jaish Muhammad – Arabic for Muhammad’s Army.

The group “has been arrested … We arrested their leader,” Allawi said, identifying him as Moayad Ahmed Yasseen, also known as Abu Ahmed.

Muhammad’s Army was known to have co-operated with Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and al-Qaida and Saddam loyalists and was responsible for killing and beheading a number of Iraqis, Arabs and foreigners in Iraq, Allawi said.

“They were planning to destroy Fallujah…by blowing up important positions,” he said.

“They have extensions abroad that I cannot talk about now.”

Allawi did not say how many members of the group were captured or what kidnappings the group has been involved in.

The militant group was arrested during US-led military operations in Fallujah.

Allawi also said officials had arrested members of another group, whom he did not name.

He said they have been detained and will be interrogated.

The US military has said in the past that Jaish Mohammed appears to be an umbrella group for former intelligence agents, army, security officials, and Baath Party members.