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Rocket launcher factory found; bomb hoax unveiled

By Maj. Russ Goemaere
December 23, 2005

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 23, 2005) – An Iraqi citizen provided a tip to Soldiers of the 7th Cavalry about a home in east Baghdad Dec. 22 that was being used as a factory to make improvised rocket-launchers.

Elements of 3rd squadron, 7th Cavalry, raided the home and discovered 15 rocket-launchers were in the process of being built and one 57 millimeter rocket was competed and ready to be fired. No one was present in the home at the time of the raid.

“It is encouraging that the Iraqi citizens are continuing to choose the side of the new government over the terrorists,” said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, commander of Coalition Forces in east Baghdad. “The Iraqi citizens know that providing information against the terrorists to Coalition or Iraqi Security Forces will help to improve the security situation in their neighborhoods.”

All equipment in the home was seized and will be used as evidence against the homeowners when they are caught. Iraqi Security Forces are continuing the search.

3 terrorists caught emplacing bomb

Three terrorists were captured as they were caught emplacing a hoax roadside bomb in east Baghdad Dec. 21.

At about 6 p.m. a patrol from 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry observed a civilian vehicle dropping cement blocks in the median of a major thoroughfare. The patrol intercepted the suspicious vehicle and detained three suspects.

Additional elements of 3-7 CAV secured the site surrounding the suspicious items and an explosive ordnance disposal team investigated the objects and found them to be hoax roadside bombs.

“These suspected terrorists were not placing cement blocks in the road for any other reason then to terrorize and intimidate the population,” said Maj. Paul Reese, operations officer for 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. “Anyone found guilty of emplacing a hoax roadside bomb is a terrorist – make no mistake about it; the people of Iraq are disgusted by these types of games.”

Hoax roadside bombs are commonly used by terrorists to check how Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces will react. The three suspects are being detained at a military detention facility.

(Editor’s note; This story contributed by 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO.)