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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

May 26, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-92


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol Iraq to eliminate smuggling weapons trade and explosives. Coalition Forces also continue to conduct joint security patrols with Iraqi police in their efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.

Coalition Activity:

Fifth Corps soldiers kill attacker in Baqubah.

An unknown number of individuals throwing grenades attacked military police guarding the former Badr Corps headquarters in Baqubah late last night. An Iraqi woman, who had her hands folded around her waist, approached U.S. soldiers conducting a walking patrol searching for the attackers. The military police squad leader instructed the woman to stop, and fired a warning shot. Squad members verbally warned her several more times, but she continued to advance towards them. When she refused, the squad shot her several times. She fell to the ground, dropping one grenade, and continued to crawl towards them. The squad fired again, killing her. The soldiers examined her and found another grenade. They turned the woman's body over to the local Iraqi police.

Fifth Corps soldiers raided a site early this morning in Ajaji thought to contain former regime senior military officers and personnel who were close to Saddam Hussein. They've detained 107 Iraqis for questioning.

Third Infantry Division soldiers raided a black market site yesterday in Baghdad, seizing 40 Russian-made night vision goggles and a number of AK-47 rifles. In another raid, soldiers from the 2d Brigade Combat Team seized 10 bayonets, numerous rifle magazines, 50,000 Dinar and $240 at a black market site in Baghdad yesterday. The raid also resulted in the detention of 3 individuals.

Soldiers from the 82d Airborne Division raided a black market arms dealer yesterday in Baghdad and detained one person for questioning.

An unknown assailant fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers who were on patrol in Al Biaj this morning. The unexploded RPG round struck and remained in a wall. The soldiers called explosive ordnance disposal specialists to remove the round.

Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, acted on information provided to them by a local citizen and captured Saddam Hassan in northern Iraq yesterday. Hassan claims to be one of Saddam's accountants. Soldiers seized $3,000 and 9 Million Dinars from him.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 7 raids and 2,529 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, 221 were conducted with Iraqi police. They also detained or arrested 250 individuals. Highlights of police activities include:

Soldiers from the 233d Military Police Company responded to a hostage situation in Baghdad Saturday night. An Iraqi woman reported that three unknown men beat and kidnapped her husband. The woman led the patrol to the house where the kidnappers were holding her husband where the patrol apprehended the kidnappers and released her husband. Iraqi police are holding the suspects at the Al-Alwiah Police Station for further investigation.

Soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company observed a group of people selling forged identification cards, passports, certificates and license plates in Baghdad on Saturday night. The group fled when the patrol approached them, leaving their items behind. The patrol confiscated the items and returned to the area about two hours later to find one of the suspects selling more items. The individual attempted to flee, but military police caught him. They took him to Military Police headquarters for questioning and transportation to the New Baghdad Police Station pending further investigation.