Terror suspects killed in series of raids in Iraq

Iraqi and US forces killed or captured more than 20 terrorist suspects, many linked with al-Qaida in Iraq, in a series of raids, the US command said today.

In an early-morning raid, Iraqi army forces with US advisers raided a home in north-east Baghdad to capture a person suspected of being involved in the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi civilians, the military said.

The suspect was thought to have been connected to militia groups and was also believed to be involved with roadside bombing attacks, the military said.

The military did not release any further details, but Iraqi police Captain Mohammed Ismael said one person was arrested, while a woman and a girl were killed in the raid and three others wounded.

In the raid’s aftermath, relatives held up a blood soaked blanket and pointed to walls pockmarked by bullets.

A woman dressed in black told reporters that innocents were caught in the crossfire.

“We are poor people sitting in our house,” she said. “We don’t harbour rancour against others.”

Angry men at the scene held up a colour photo of a smiling, winking Jesus giving a “thumbs-up” sign that they said was left by troops at the raided house. The image, known as the “Buddy Christ”, is from the movie Dogma, a 1999 religious satire.

The US military had no immediate comment on the allegation that the picture was left there by soldiers who participated in the raid.

Major Salman Abdel-Wahid, a spokesman for the Iraqi army’s 6th Division in Baghdad, said he could not comment for the US troops but that his soldiers, who led the raid, were not responsible.

“We have nothing to do with the issue of Christ’s picture – we do not throw or distribute such pictures during operations,” he said. “Our soldiers do not carry out such acts.”

On Friday, US and Iraqi forces raided a building in Baghdad in an attempt to apprehend a suspect believed to be associated with a senior al Qaida in Iraq terrorist leader and thought to have helped bring foreign fighters into Iraq, the military said in a statement.

The target suspect was also believed to have planned and carried out terrorist operations in Baghdad, and was linked to al Qaida in Iraq groups operating in Azamiyah in north Baghdad.

As forces moved in to capture the suspect, three people with assault rifles moved to open fire on them and were killed. Three suspects, including the target were captured, said US military spokesman Major Andrew Morton.

Troops also found multiple weapons and explosives at the scene.

The statement did not say whether the target suspect was among those killed or captured and the US military could not immediately clarify.

The same day, coalition forces in Baqouba, 35 miles north-east of Baghdad, killed two terrorist suspects and captured five others in a raid.

"Credible intelligence indicated the targeted terrorists communicated directly with several al-Qaida in Iraq leaders tied to terrorist activity from Tikrit to Muqdadiyah and Baghdad,” the US command said in a statement.

The intelligence also indicated that the suspects co-operated with other foreign extremist organisations operating in Iraq, the military added.

Troops cleared the target building and detained two suspects, then killed two others who opened fire on the coalition forces with AK-47 assault rifles. They located a suicide bomb belt on the roof the building.

Three more suspects were taken into custody in a connecting building, where troops found another suicide bomb belt, multiple hand grenades, and ammunition.

Six terrorist suspects were killed in two separate operations on September 25 around Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad.

Based on intelligence information, coalition forces tracked a vehicle on a road known to be used by the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq in the region, then opened fire on it, killing the driver and 3 passengers before they could detonate the two suicide vests found inside. Two AK-47 assault rifles were also found in the vehicle.

Later, as coalition forces approached a second vehicle being tracked, one of the two people inside detonated a suicide vest.

Two al-Qaida in Iraq suspects wanted for attacks on Iraqi and US forces were captured on September 22 in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, the military said.

The two are believed to have planted roadside bombs and conducted sniper and other attacks against coalition troops.