Article

2003-12-10 Iraq

U.S. Arrests Suspects in Spanish Deaths in Iraq

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Posted by seafarious 2003-12-10 4:39:17 PM|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Not much more new yet: Among those detained during 18 raids in Latifiyah, just south of Baghdad, were the "actual attackers", said a statement from the 82nd Airborne. The Spanish intelligence agents were killed in a mortar and grenade attack on their convoy in Latifiyah on November 29. In Madrid, Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo told parliament he had been informed of the arrests by the ground forces commander of the American-led coalition, US Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez. Those detained were "presumed to be directly responsible for the carrying out and the organisation" of the ambush, he said, adding they belonged "to a dangerous armed group", which he named as "Abu Abdullah". According to Trillo, the suspects were arrested without a shot being fired.

Posted by Steve 2003-12-10 9:15:12 PM|| 2003-12-10 9:15:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 TASK FORCE âALL AMERICANâ CAPTURES SPANISH ATTACKERS

LUTAFIYAH, Iraq â At 2:00 am this morning, paratroopers from 3rd Brigade, 82d Airborne Division with the assistance of Iraqi police conducted Operation Panther Squeeze, a series of 18 raids in Lutafiyah to kill or capture individuals believed to be responsible for the attack against Spanish forces on November 29th. The cooperation efforts between the coalition forces and Iraqi police contributed to the great success of this operation.

During the raids, 15 primary targets were captured with a total of 41 enemy personnel taken for questioning. Those captured included the cell leader Abu Abdullah, an intelligence officer, financier, and a doctor who treated terrorists so they can avoid treatment at local hospitals, and the actual attackers.

A vehicle was also confiscated that may have been used in the recent assassination of the Lutafiyah Police Chief.

Since November 29th, we have been able to gather a significant amount of human intelligence in Lutafiyah. Intelligence collection in the area prior to the attack against the Spaniards was very difficult, but now there are indications that terrorist activities are no longer tolerable to the average citizen there.
CentCom

Posted by Chuck 2003-12-10 9:33:32 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2003-12-10 9:33:32 PM|| Front Page Top

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