COALITION
JOINT TASK FORCE - SEVEN
NEWS RELEASE
DSN 318.438.2289/COM 99.001.468.2289
May 20, 2003
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coalition and Iraqi Police Work to Make Iraq Secure
CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol to make Iraq safer for everyone by eliminating smuggling and trade in weapons and explosives. Coalition Forces also continue to conduct training and joint security patrols with Iraqi police in efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.
Secretary of Ba'ath Party's Southern Region in Custody
Coalition Forces captured #65 on their Black List, Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafur early yesterday morning. He is theformer secretary for the Ba'ath Party's southern region, former presidential special advisor, and former Revolutionary Command Council member. Number 50, Ugla Abid Saqir Al-Kbaysi, on the Top 55 is in Coalition Forces custody in Baghdad early this morning. Saqir was a former Ba'ath Party Regional Chairman in the Dhi Qar Governorate.
Coalition Activity:
Soldiers from 615th Military Police Company investigated a report of students making threats against a schoolteacher while on patrol in Baghdad, Sunday. While doing so, they searched the school and found about 10 81mm mortar rounds in the schoolyard. They marked the ordnance and called on Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel to remove it.
Iraqi police and 537th Military Police Company soldiers responded to a report of an aggravated assault. They arrived on the scene to find an individual holding a woman hostage in a house, shooting into a neighborhood and making threats. Members from the 82d Airborne Division entered the house, detained the individual and turned him over to the Iraqi police.
First Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division soldiers raided a possible paramilitary site in Baghdad early this morning. They detained eight suspects for questioning. The soldiers also seized seven AK-47 rifles, a pistol and several sticks of dynamite.
Second Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment soldiers destroyed one vehicle and disabled another when Iraqis attempted to run a coalition roadblock in Baghdad early this morning. They wounded two suspects. One soldier was shot and evacuated to a Field Surgical Team unit. The soldier's condition is unknown at this time. The soldier's name will be withheld until next-of-kin notification.
Fourth Infantry Division soldiers seized 500 BM-21 rockets when they secured a warehouse north of Baghdad yesterday.
Soldiers from the 82d Airborne Division stopped two fuel trucks in Baghdad yesterday and detained three individuals. The individuals are suspected of selling fuel on the black market in Mosul.
Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) stopped three men riding motorcycles at a checkpoint in Mosul yesterday and confiscated several pistols. They detained the men for questioning.
A U.S. military police patrol detained three men for breaking curfew in Baghdad last night. The patrol confiscated three AK-47 rifles. They released the suspects after questioning them.
A U.S. Army military police patrol stopped three men in Baghdad yesterday for carrying weapons. They confiscated two AK-47 rifles, a pistol, and more than 400 rounds of ammunition. They released the suspects after questioning them.
Assailants fired upon a U.S. Army military police patrollast night from a building in Baghdad. The police patrol returned fire, then conducted a search of the building. They found an injured man and two others. The injured man was evacuated for medical treatment. They seized five AK-47 rifles and about 150 rounds of ammunition.
First Brigade Combat Team soldiers raided a stolen car "chop shop" in Baghdad yesterday. The soldiers seized an AK-47 rifle and numerous car parts. Two soldiers and a Los Angeles Times reporter received superficial wounds as a result of the raid.
Fourth Infantry Division soldiers raided a site in Bayji yesterday and detained four Iraqis. They also seized several AK-47 rifles, mortars, and pro-Saddam propaganda.
Marines from 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment raided a suspected arms market in Karbala. They confiscated three bags of grenades and weapons parts, and detained three individuals.
Marines conducted a cordon and search operation in Al Kut. They observed several armed men in a building during the operation, but they fled the area after seeing the Marines. The Marines found Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution literature, banners and flags when they searched the building. They also found a grenade and several empty ammunition containers.
U.S. Army military police elements continue to assess the functionality of 42 Iraqi Police stations. There are currently 14police stations returned to service and reportedly 89 percent of the Iraqi police force returned to work.
Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:
Coalition Forces conducted seven raids and 1,543 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, Coalition Forces conducted 222 with Iraqi Police. They also detained or arrested 297 individuals. The following are highlights of the patrolling effort:
Baghdad: Coalition Forces conducted three raids and 982 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted 17 with Iraqi police. The raids and patrols resulted in 240 arrests for various crimes, including looting, curfew violations, weapons violations and theft. They also seized 11 rifles, 3 pistols, 5 grenades, 5 rocket-propelled grenades and 30 million Dinars.
Mosul: Coalition Forces conducted 408 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted 18 with Iraqi police. Their activities resulted in five arrests for various crimes, including shooting at Coalition Forces and dealing in black market fuel. They also seized one propane fuel truck and two benzene fuel trucks.
Tikrit: Coalition Forces conducted one raid and 86 patrols. They conducted five joint patrols with Iraqi police and arrested 13 people for weapons possession. They also seized 6 rifles, 9 bayonets and about 500 rounds of rifle ammunition.
Baqubah: Coalition Forces conducted 112 patrols. They arrested 11 people for various crimes, including weapons possession and carrying large sums of money. They seized 11 AK-47 rifles, 7 mortars, 2 rocket-propelled grenades and various explosives and anti-personnel mines.
Fallujah: Coalition Forces conducted 10 patrols. They seized a mine, AK-47 rifles with rounds and a rocket-propelled grenade.
Ar Ramadi: Coalition Forces conducted seven patrols; one was a joint patrol with Iraqi police. They seized an AK-47 rifle, a bayonet and a rocket-propelled grenade.
Al Basra: Coalition Forces conducted a raid and 123 patrols. Their activities resulted in 12 arrests for theft and attacks on Coalition Patrols. They seized five AK-47s, several bayonets and a grenade.
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