Posted on 12/10/2003 12:06:10 PM PST by saquin
US paratroopers and Iraqi police detained 41 suspects in connection with the killings of seven Spanish intelligence agents in an ambush last month, the US military said.
Among those detained during 18 raids in Latifiyah, just south of Baghdad, were the "actual attackers" and the cell leader, the 82nd Airborne Division said in a statement.
Seven Spanish intelligence agents were killed in a mortar and grenade attack on their convoy in Latifiyah on November 29. An eighth officer from Spain's national intelligence service, CNI, was slightly wounded.
The attack brought to 10 the number of Spanish personnel killed in Iraq out of a force of some 1,300.
"At 2:00 am (2300 GMT Tuesday) 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 Latafiyah to kill or capture individuals believed to be responsible for the attack against Spanish forces."
The statement described the operation as a "great success".
"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, a financier, doctors who treat terrorists so they can avoid treatment at local hospitals, and the actual attackers."
"Since November 29, we have been able to gather a significant amount of human intelligence in Latafiyah.
"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," it said.
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.
According to Trillo, the suspects were arrested without a shot being fired.
Earlier Wednesday, Trillo said Iraqi police had also captured five suspects believed to be behind the October 9 assassination of a Spanish intelligence agent in Baghdad.
According to Trillo, the five suspects were captured at the weekend and "have been placed at the disposition of the judicial authorities".
Jose Antonio Bernal, who served with CNI, was shot dead outside his home in the Iraqi capital by a group of armed men.
"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," it said.
Let's hope this is a continuing trend, throughout the country.
Sucks to be a terrorist in Iraq ...
I certainly hope so.
And there are plenty more that are now six feet under.
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