NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
September 13, 2003
Release Number: 03-09-11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHECKPOINT GUNFIRE LEADS TO WEAPONS CACHE
MOSUL, IRAQ - Six Iraqis were detained after they attempted to run a checkpoint near the towns of Saff At Tuth Isfia and Talul An Nasir in the 101st Airborne Division's area on Sep. 10. Subsequent operations resulted in the discovery of a large weapons cache in one of their homes.
Soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team fired warning shots when a van and motorcycle refused to slow down and began speeding through a checkpoint. The van stopped and the motorcycle crashed into concertina wire. No one was hurt. After the soldiers found an AK-47 in the van, all six were taken to a holding cell at Qayyarrah West Airfield.
During interrogation, the individuals gave conflicting stories, but revealed the names of their hometowns, Saff At Tuth Isfia and Talul An Nasir. A Muktar, or town leader, of Talul An Nasir showed U.S. forces where two of the individuals lived.
Soldiers searched their home and found two AK-47 rifles, a mortar sight, three loaded magazines, a periscope, two gas masks, a mine detector, two camouflage jackets, a pistol belt, an improvised detonator, a box of shotgun flares, a flare gun, and a 4-barrel anti-aircraft gun.
Also found were three Ministry of Defense identification cards, one passport, and 5,250,000 Dinar.
One individual was seen leaving the house as soon as the element pulled up. Soldiers pursued the individual, but were unable capture him. The brigade immediately launched more operations to search the homes of the other detainees.
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