• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

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 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-104


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (May 28, 2003)

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol Iraq to eliminate crimes against people and property, rid populated areas of weapons, ammunition explosives, and stop the black market trade in fuel and other commodities. 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:

Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division conducted a cordon and search operation yesterday morning near Bayji that resulted in the capture of two key area Fedayeen leaders. Soldiers also detained 10 former regime Special Security Organization agents and several former regime senior military officers for questioning.

Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, recently raided a site near Tikrit where former regime members were suspected to be operating from and are wanted by the Coalition. They detained eight personnel for questioning.

Soldiers from the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment raided the residence yesterday morning that they believe belongs to the ringleader of a group responsible for attacks on Coalition convoys on Highway 10. He and an Iraqi male were captured along with numerous weapons. Both are being detained for questioning.

Soldiers from the 2d Brigade Combat Team searched and found a cache of weapons, explosives and communications equipment near a radio and TV station in Mosul. The cache included an anti-aircraft gun, 40 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, two AK-47 rifles, encrypted radio systems and a large amount of different types of ammunition and rockets. They secured the site and called explosive ordnance disposal teams to destroy the munitions.

Marines from 3d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, along with Civil Affairs, Governance Support Teams and military police recently conducted a sweep of the Karbala city market to combat illegal arms sales. They arrested four Iraqis and confiscated several AK-47 rifles.

Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in An Najaf recently seized a truck used for transporting fuel to the black market. The fuel was transported to the main gas station, and two Iraqis were turned over to the local police.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 12 raids while the Army and Marine Corps conducted a total of 2,772 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, they conducted 236 joint patrols with Iraqi police. They also detained or arrested 241 individuals. Highlights of police activities include:

An Iraqi citizen flagged down a joint patrol of U.S. military and Iraqi police in Baghdad recently to report a taxi cab driver being stabbed. They investigated and found that the taxi driver had been pulled out of his vehicle and attacked.. The Iraqi police took the victim to a hospital.

A citizen recently reported that a man had threatened his family with a grenade. The citizen reported the incident by going to a Baghdad police station manned by Iraqi police and the 615th Military Police. Iraqi police went to the area but could not find the man. Later that night, they received a report from other Iraqi police that the man had again been seen in the area. Shortly afterwards, soldiers from the 82d Airborne Division reported the man had been dropped off at their position, where the soldiers had him in custody. He had suffered numerous gunshot wounds. Soldiers took him to the local hospital after confiscating a grenade and bayonet.

A local citizen approached a joint patrol of Iraqi police and 549th Military Police to tell them a man had entered his home and stolen a pistol and some money. The patrol raided the suspect's home and found the pistol. The suspect was detained for questioning. The joint patrol turned the pistol into a U.S. Military Police collection point and gave the citizen who reported the crime a receipt.

A local schoolteacher recently showed a joint patrol of Iraqi police and 549th Military Police some landmines other citizens had found in a Baghdad neighborhood. The patrol marked the area and called in an explosives ordnance disposal team to remove them.

Iraqi police reported to 233d Military Police Company soldiers in Baghdad that they recently responded to a report that some men were taking over houses nearby. The Iraqi and U.S. military police went to the suspected location and apprehended them without incident. Members of the joint patrol searched the house and confiscated two AK-47 rifles. They took the individuals to a police station for questioning.

Soldiers from the 233d Military Police Company and Iraqi police, who were recently on a joint patrol in Baghdad, saw four men attempting to forcefully enter a house. The men fled, dropping an AK-47 rifle, when the patrol approached. The patrol searched the area for the men, but could not find them. The weapon was turned into the 233d Military Police Company weapons collection point.

A shooter on a rooftop recently fired at members of the 233d Military Police Company while they were on patrol in Bahgdad. The patrol withheld their fire because they could not positively identify the shooter's position. No one was injured in the incident.