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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2005/20050419_663.html

U.S. Troops Thwart IED Attack; Detainee Dies at Camp Bucca

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2005 – American troops in Iraq today fought off an insurgent improvised-explosive-device assault.

Ammunition and bomb-making materials are lined up on the ground in Baghdad's Salman Pak area after an Iraqi Army unit uncovered a large weapons cache April 18. Photo by Sgt. David Winkel, USA
In other news, a detainee who was being held at Camp Bucca apparently died of natural causes.

U.S. Army soldiers patrolling Baqubah encountered insurgents who detonated an IED and unleashed small-arms fire. The Americans returned fire and wounded one attacker. The injured insurgent was taken to a coalition base for medical treatment. No U.S. soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Elsewhere, medics came to the aid of a 51-year-old male detainee at Camp Bucca who seemed to be suffering from seizures. “The detainee was quickly moved to the first aid station, where appropriate life-saving procedures failed to resuscitate him,” a coalition news release stated. A doctor at the aid station pronounced the detainee dead at 9:40 a.m. local time today.

The deceased detainee had been held at Camp Bucca since May 2004. The detainee’s remains will be transferred to his family after an autopsy is completed.

An investigation will be conducted into the circumstances of the detainee’s death. Camp Bucca is located in the southeastern region of Iraq and holds more than 6,000 detainees.

An Iraqi army unit discovered a weapons cache in the Baghdad's Salman Pak area on April 18.

The stockpile included mortars, rockets and two cars outfitted to serve as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. The Iraqi security forces-led mission involved elements from the Iraqi army, police and public order brigades.

Task Force Baghdad officials said the find will help thwart insurgents’ plans to intimidate the local populace and attack Iraqi security forces and coalition troops.

"This mission shows the effectiveness of our strategy to increase the capability of the ISF through deliberate partnership with U.S. forces,” said U.S. Army Maj. Daniel Cormier, operations officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “We are much more effective when conducting joint operations, which maximizes the strengths of all forces involved."

In a separate mission, U.S. soldiers nabbed 11 suspected insurgents during an April 18 raid conducted south of ad Dujayl, in Salah ad Din province. An Iraqi citizen told the soldiers that suspected insurgents in the area were selling weapons and making IEDs.

A search uncovered eight rocket-propelled-grenade rounds, two RPG launchers and materials for making IEDs. The detainees were taken to a coalition base for questioning.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq press releases.)

Related Site:
Multinational Force Iraq

Mortar rounds once belonging to terrorists are stacked up against a wall Baghdad's Salman Pak area after an Iraqi Army unit uncovered a large weapons cache April 18. Photo by Sgt. David Winkel, USA
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