Daily Terrorist Round-up Stories - March 27, 2005 (Big capture in Iraq & More terrorist TV)

3/27/05

[Straight Vermonter]

Iraqi forces seize suspected insurgents

By Omar Anwar

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. helicopters have killed several suspected insurgents and seized 131 more in a dawn raid, capturing tons of explosives earmarked for attacks on the holy city of Kerbala, officials say.

"It was a surprise operation based on intensive surveillance by military intelligence," Defence Minister Hazim al-Shaalan told Reuters on Saturday. "It was very successful."

Earlier this week Iraqi police commandos said they killed 85 militants in a raid on a suspected insurgent training camp near Baghdad, hailing it as a breakthrough against the insurgency.

Shaalan said several suspected militants were killed in the latest operation, which began late on Friday and culminated in the dawn raid just outside Kerbala, about 100 km (60 miles) southwest of Baghdad.

The vast majority of the 131 captured were Iraqis, although officials said many faked Iraqi identification papers were also found. It was not clear how many people were killed.

"We carried out this operation so that visitors to Kerbala can go there in peace," Shaalan said.

Kerbala, an important Shi'ite Muslim holy city, has been targeted by militants several times in the past. Next week it will draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from throughout the region for Arbain, a major mourning ceremony.

Another defence ministry official said many of those detained were from Ansar al-Sunna, a militant group based in northern Iraq, near the border with Iran, that has carried out several high-profile attacks over the past 18 months.

"This group was intending to attack Kerbala," he said.

Seized along with the suspects were three tonnes of TNT explosive, at least three ready-made car bombs, hundreds of rocket-propelled grenades, several Katyusha rockets, more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition and other equipment.

In terms of the number of people detained and the amount of weaponry seized, it marks one of the most successful Iraqi-run operations in the past two years.

Iraqi officials say their intelligence network is improving, while Iraqi security forces are also growing stronger, giving them fresh impetus in the battle against the two-year-old insurgency.

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Counter-terror TV show draws praise from Iraqis

PHILIP SMUCKER IN BAGHDAD 
SCENES of carnage are common in Iraq these days. You can catch them in the back alleys, on the highway from the airport, and now in your own living room. A new state TV show targeting terror opens with an Islamist group preparing to execute an American hostage in an orange jumpsuit. It stops short of showing the severed head.

Cut to two Iraqi children holding up a sign - ‘No to Terrorism’ - and you have the lead in to an effective, US-funded propaganda campaign. Al Iraqiya television is running a wildly popular series highlighting what it claims are the true confessions of the terrorists wreaking havoc across the nation. The show is the new Iraqi state’s answer to the growing number of al-Qaeda and Islamist websites that show summary executions and slaughter.

Most Iraqis have greeted the show with applause. They see it as evidence that their new security forces are capturing the bad guys and turning up the heat on them. Most viewers are not disturbed by the apparent human rights violations that almost certainly accompany the production of the show. But the police show, whose ‘perps’ appear bruised and battered, is also reminiscent of an era of kangaroo courts which characterised Iraq’s legal system during the reign of former president Saddam Hussein. It reflects Iraq’s new justice in its rawest form.

Though the Ministry of Interior, which produces the show, insists the confessions are not physically coerced, it seems unlikely followers of Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi would volunteer to explain their deeds to a nationwide audience in Iraq. The US government, which funds the Al Iraqiya station, has sidestepped questions from reporters that it is paying for tortured confessions by pointing out that the station is actually run by an American contractor, not Washington.

One US official said he had tried to suggest programming changes but had been ignored. Nevertheless, the show, Terrorists in the Arms of Justice, is clearly an effective tool in the hands of the police. Interrogators hear from terrorist suspects that they work for money, sometimes only $150 or £80 a hit, and that they engage in homosexual acts. Many admit to being alcohol drinkers - a clear contradiction of their alleged Islamist aims.

An Iraqi journalist, who is a fan of the show, says that any human rights violations that take place to produce it do not disturb him in the least. "We have a dire situation here," said Alaa Al-Safar, a reporter for Al Da’awa newspaper in Baghdad. "The US does more to its own prisoners without giving them human rights than we do. Why would this be allowed for the US and not for us? When we restore peace and order, yes, human rights will be a good idea. But right now this is a good thing. People had the impression before this show appeared that nothing was being done to fight terrorism."

One recent suspect, who confessed his crimes on the TV show, was later delivered to his father’s home as a corpse.

SV-Smucker is a shmuck.

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Top Hizbul terrorist killed in J&K's Anantnag district

In a second major blow to the Hizbul Mujahideen this week, security forces shot dead a top commander of the terror outfit in an encounter in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mohammad Ashraf Padder, "divisional commander cum financial chief" of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in a gun battle with the security forces at Langni in Pahalgam area on Saturday, official sources said on Sunday.

Padder's killing comes four days after another top ranking terrorist Ashiq Hussain Shah was eliminated by the forces in same area.

An AK rifle, two magazines, three rounds and three grenades were recovered from the slain terrorist, the sources said.

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Lashkar explosives expert arrested

* Alleged to be behind bridge bombs meant for Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif

By Mubasher Bukhari
LAHORE: The Anti-Terrorist Force has arrested Mufti Eid Muhammad, an explosives expert for the defunct militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, intelligence sources told Daily Times on Monday.

Intelligence agencies were tipped off about his location in Lahore and a special squad took him into custody, sources said, adding that interrogations revealed that he used to make bombs for terrorist activities. Eid Muhammad carries a Rs 500,000 bounty. Sources said, “Eid Muhammad also directed authorities to two of his accomplices hiding in Karachi. They were also arrested.” Local police denied having any information of his arrest.

Eid Muhammad is alleged to have been the man who rigged Chaklala Bridge, Rawalpindi, with explosives in an attempt to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf on December 14, 2003 in Rawalpindi. The bomb exploded seconds after President Musharraf’s motorcade crossed the bridge, the jamming device installed in the president’s car stalling the bomb. Eid Muhammad is also alleged to have rigged a bridge on Raiwind Road with explosives in an attempt to assassinate former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on January 3, 1999 in Lahore.

Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif were scheduled to travel on the road separately on the same day. The bomb exploded a few minutes before Shahbaz’s arrival, destroying the bridge.

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 2 Lashkar-e-Mehdi members arrested

ISLAMABAD: Law enforcement agencies have arrested two suspects who allegedly threatened a high-ranking official of the United Nations designated in Pakistan, via email.

The suspects reportedly belong to Lashkar-e-Mehdi and were arrested from sector I-10, sources told Daily Times. The email threatened the official with dire consequences if he continued to gather information about religious seminaries and underground ‘elements’ of banned militant religious outfits.

The identity of the two accused has not been ascertained yet, however they have been taken to an undisclosed location, sources added.

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Police foil plan to burn GenSan mall

MANILA -- Police have arrested a suspected Muslim bandit found trying to enter a shopping mall in General Santos City with a mobile phone case filled with a flammable substance, officials said Saturday.

Abdullah Wahab Piang, alias Abdullah Adbulkahar, 36 - who is believed to be a member of Abu Sayyaf - was taken into custody Wednesday after security guards at the KCC Mall in General Santos city found him carrying a white powdery substance in the case, which was also filled with strips of paper, Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane said.

Initial inspection by police showed the substance to be incendiary material.

"It will not explode but it will create a flame and can be used for sabotage or to start a fire," Dangane added.

Dangane said police are also looking into the real identity of Piang, whose name matches that of an Abu Sayyaf member with a pending arrest warrant for kidnapping issued by a court in Jolo island.

On March 1, three incendiary bombs were found in the men's section also of KCC mall in General Santos.

A sales clerk found the homemade bombs late in the pockets of clothing on display at the KCC Mall in General Santos, Chief Supt. Antonio Billones said.

The bombs, including one attached to a cellular phone and containing black powder, could have triggered a fire had they exploded but were not powerful enough to create substantial damage or kill people, Billones said.

Investigators could not immediately say if pranksters, extortionists or Muslim militants, who have been suspected in past bombings in General Santos, placed the explosives.

Bombs went off almost simultaneously in General Santos, Davao and Makati City on Feb. 14, killing eight people and injuring more than 100 others in attacks that Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist guerrillas said they staged to retaliate against a major military offensive against Muslim rebels on southern Jolo island.

Officials said Monday that three Jemaah Islamiyah operatives were suspected of plotting with Abu Sayyaf to stage bombings this week.

Soldiers and police have beefed up security in shopping malls, churches and other crowded places to guard against bombings threatened by Abu Sayyaf as revenge for the deaths of 23 inmates killed by police in a botched jailbreak last week. Among them were three prominent guerrilla commanders.

Citing the worries about planned attacks, the US and British governments warned their citizens on Wednesday against traveling to the Philippines.

Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf, two of Southeast Asia's deadliest Islamic militant groups, are collaborating in the southern Philippines to train extremists in explosives, weapons and combat tactics, jailed Indonesian terror suspect Rohmat said Wednesday.

Like many Indonesians, Rohmat uses only one name.

The jungles in the south also are providing refuge to terrorists involved in major attacks elsewhere in the region, including the 2002 bombings in a nightclub district on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, the suspected Jemaah Islamiyah operative told The Associated Press in an interview.(AP)

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Qaeda suspect killed in Hangu

HANGU: An alleged Al Qaeda suspect was killed in mysterious circumstances and police was investigating whether the deceased was a member of the terror network, a police official said on Saturday.

“We suspect Farooq may be an Al Qaeda man but we have not reached any conclusion as yet,” District Police Officer Zebullah Khan told Daily Times. The police officer said that senior officials were in touch with him about investigations into Farooq’s death.

Sources said that bearded Farooq, said to be in 20s, was staying with local resident Rafiq in Zarguri area, 25 kilometres from Hangu city, as a guest when another guest killed him on Friday night. staff report

[Straight Vermonter]

Happy Easter all!

[Straight Vermonter]

Let me know if you want on/off the terrorist roundup ping list.

Terrorist Scorecard

[jocon307]

Happy Easter to you!

They are doing a great job over there. It is good to see.

[Deetes]

One recent suspect, who confessed his crimes on the TV show, was later delivered to his father’s home as a corpse.

That will get the point across ;)

Happy Easter !!!

[piasa]

One US official said he had tried to suggest programming changes but had been ignored. Nevertheless, the show, Terrorists in the Arms of Justice...

Another PC anonymous official. Oh dear.

I... feel... another... DemocRAT bleeding heart talking point... (and... book deal)... is in the works...

[appalachian_dweller]

Lots of good news these days SV. Thanks for the ping!

[Dog]

Farooq

That name sounds familiar.

Boot Hill.......where is Hangu in Pakistan?

[Straight Vermonter]

[Dog]

I knew the name sounded familiar ....Farooq was picked up in a previous raid and released..... and it looks like he is connected to JI.

Here.

[Dog]

Farooq that I found ...was 28......so the age matches.

[Dog]

Interesting it is in the parrots peak region of Pakistan...northeast of Wana.....Hmmmmmm.

[Valin]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi soldiers backed by U.S. helicopters have killed several suspected insurgents and seized 131 more in a dawn raid, capturing tons of explosives earmarked for attacks on the holy city of Kerbala, officials say.


Earlier this week Iraqi police commandos said they killed 85 militants in a raid on a suspected insurgent training camp near Baghdad, hailing it as a breakthrough against the insurgency.


I could be wrong but it appears to me that Iraq is becoming a very...unhealthy place for terrorists.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks more good news from the Middle East and around the Islamo Terrorist world.

" Interrogators hear from terrorist suspects that they work for money, sometimes only $150 or £80 a hit, and that they engage in homosexual acts. Many admit to being alcohol drinkers - a clear contradiction of their alleged Islamist aims. "

How many of these terrorists are on drugs when they commit their acts of terrorism or die trying to commit them?

[elhombrelibre]

Life must be unpleasant for many of these jihadis.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sources said that bearded Farooq, said to be in 20s, was staying with local resident Rafiq in Zarguri area, 25 kilometres from Hangu city, as a guest when another guest killed him on Friday night. staff report

Maybe the other guest didn't like his advances!

Kinda like a Wild West Shootout!!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

How many of these terrorists are on drugs when they commit their acts of terrorism or die trying to commit them?

I bet a LOT of them are.

[Ben Hecks]

Please add me to your ping list. Thanks!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Most of them, their leaders dope them up when they send them out to do their dirty evil deeds.

[BayouCoyote]

Great round up!