Daily Terrorist Round-up Stories 4-15-05 (Raids in Germany, Iraq & Terrorist on US Aircraft Carrier)

4/15/05

[Straight Vermonter]

27 militants held in raid 

BAQUBA: Iraqi forces seized 27 Islamic militants in Baquba, 60km north of Baghdad, yesterday along with weapons and leaflets linked to the Al Qaeda network, the army said.

"Sixteen of the arrested, including two Egyptians, are wanted by authorities for crimes they are believed to have been committed," said Colonel Ismael Ibrahim.

"Large quantities of weapons were seized ... and leaflets of the Jordanian Islamist Abu Musab Al Zarqawi urging militants to carry out attacks against US and Iraq forces were found too."

The defence ministry said it had also arrested 49 suspects in raids launched on Wednesday around the northern city of Mosul, a hotbed of rebel activity.

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Task Force Baghdad raids net two more terror suspects

A cordon and search operation by Iraqi Army Soldiers resulted in the capture of a terrorist wanted for working with anti-Iraqi forces April 12. The suspect was taken to the Iraqi Army unit’s headquarters for questioning.

Another Iraqi Army unit searched a house in north Baghdad after a detainee from a previous raid told them weapons were being hidden there. The Iraqi Soldiers found 12 grenades, two rocket-propelled grenade missiles and one mortar round.

In west Baghdad, U.S. Soldiers raided another house and captured another specifically targeted terror suspect. The Soldiers also found one nine-millimeter handgun with magazines, AK-47 rifle ammunition and a passport. They also found other forms of identification used by the targeted individual.

Both suspects remain in U.S. custody.

“Over the last three days, the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers have taken more than 70 suspected terrorists into custody,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “Our capabilities continue to grow and improve every day as our Iraqi Security Forces counterparts grow stronger.”

Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad officials strongly encourage local citizens to report suspicious behavior by emailing baghdadtipshotline@yahoo.com or calling one of the TIPS hotlines at 07901737723 or 07901737727.

By Task Force Baghdad PAO
 

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Controversy Reported: Members of al-Qaeda Use and Distribute Drugs

An April 11, 2005, Saudi press report documented the exportation and use of drugs by members of al-Qaeda in incidents that occurred over the past year. The London-based Arabic paper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported strong ties between a Saudi al-Qaeda cell and the international drug network. The group, which organized the killings in al-Jofi, used the drug called “hashish.” The report said that this was not an isolated incident. “This is not the first time a connection between al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and the drug trade has been revealed.”

Another drug-related incident took place July 5, 2003, when “the Canadian of Kuwaiti origin, Abdul Rahman Jabara was killed, along with Turki al-Dandani, who blew them up. Found on the men were 13,000 riyals and fake documents, some of which were drug proceeds for the group, especially, Turki al-Dandani. Pills were found in his pockets during the search. An analysis of his corpse showed that he was consuming this kind of drug.

The newspaper report also said that al-Qaeda’s drug ties are not confined to Saudi Arabia. “It is said that many al-Qaeda members and their supporters were trained in Afghanistan, one of the biggest drug-producing countries of in the world. According to some statistics, Iran confiscates about 200 tons of drugs every year at its borders. In Afghanistan, half of the Taliban government’s budget was dependent on drug money.” Some al-Qaeda members believe that exporting drugs hurts the West.

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  7 held in German raids 

MUNICH The police in Germany raided homes, businesses and mosques Thursday in an operation targeting suspected Islamic extremists, the authorities said.  About 30 properties in Germany were searched as part of an investigation into money laundering and the financing of extremist groups. The police in Brussels also searched two premises in related raids but made no arrests, the police said.

German police officers detained seven people, including two men they believe provided financial support to extremist groups. Four of the five others who were arrested are being held on suspicion of being in Germany illegally, the police said. More than half of the German raids took place in Munich, but searches also were carried out in Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg and at other locations in the states of Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. The police seized more than €50,000, or about $64,000, in cash as well as forged passports, about 60 computers and CDs and video cassettes.

Martin Hofmann, a state prosecutor, said two men were accused of money laundering and tax evasion: a 47-year-old Egyptian, Adbel-Raouf R., and a 43-year-old Tunisian, Abdellatif T.  The police said the men had links with Islamist militant groups and that the Egyptian knew some of the hijackers in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. The two men, both living legally in Germany since the early 1990s, had each transferred up to €500,000 to extremist Islamic organizations abroad, the police said.

Jörg Beyser, head of the Munich police's state protection department, said investigators believed the Tunisian had given money to families of imprisoned members of a banned Tunisian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.  Bavaria's security service considers the Muslim Brotherhood to be an multi-national extremist organization that aims to set up an Islamic state. Germany has stepped up surveillance of suspected militants among its three million Muslims since the 2001 attacks. Three of the Sept. 11 hijackers had studied in Hamburg. The German police last carried out a major raid in January, when 22 people were arrested in a search for a criminal group that was suspected of providing logistical support and false passports to Islamist networks.

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Hizb leader surrenders arms in Paktia  (Afghanistan)
 
GARDEZ, April 14 (SANA): Noted Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) commander Pacha Khan has surrendered weapons to security officials in Said Karam district in the southern Paktia province.
 
 "Today's jihad is that we hand over arms to the government and take part in the reconstruction of our country," said Pacha Khan, whose party has played a crucial role in the holy war against Russians.

Gardez security chief Col. Mohammad Nabi Saleh said the arms included two mortars, a piece of heavy weapon, 44 boxes of bullets, one missile, 32 boxes of anti-aircraft gun bullets, 250 boxes of mortar bullets and 40 anti-personnel mines.

Hizb-e-Islami is one of Afghanistan's major political parties which took active part in 'jihad' against the invading Russians. HIA chief Eng. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who has declared jihad against the US forces stationed in the country, is in hiding. 

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Guerilla base eliminated in Chechnya

KHANKALA. April 14 (Interfax) - A guerilla base has been eliminated in the mountains near the village of Serzhen-Yurt in Chechnya's Shali district, spokesman for the federal forces in the North Caucasus Maj. General Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax.

Information about the base was provided by a former member of Magomed Baisultanov's guerilla group, who had surrendered to the authorities, Shabalkin said.

The base was comprised of two dugouts and a plastic barrel dug into the ground that was used to store ammunition.

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Ten killed in valley (India)
Operation on to bust militants’ hideouts

As many as 10 persons, including six militants, were killed while security forces launched a massive operation against ultras in Jammu and Kashmir.

A defence ministry spokesman said troops on a specific information launched a cordon and search operation at Dangerpur village in south Kashmir district of Pulwama early this morning.

When the area was being sealed, militants opened fire and also hurled hand grenades. The troops also retaliated and in the fierce encounter, three militants — Mohammad Yousuf, alias Qazi, — Mohammad Ashraf and Abdul Hamid, were killed, he added.

Three AK rifles, 12 grenades and one wireless set were recovered from the deceased.

Security forces did not suffer any casuality, the spokesman said and added troops also arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and recovered one AK rifle, 2 magazines and 25 rounds near general bus stand Batmaloo.

Official sources said militants shot at and critically wounded an Assistant Treasury Officer, Mr Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, at Kulgam. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, sources added.

Militants also abducted another person Mohammad Shafi Ganai at Kokernag last night.

An official spokesman said security forces gunned down a militant at Khansaheb in the central Kashmir district of Badgam last night. One AK rifle and one wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

A Jammu report quoting Superintendent of Police (Banihal-Ramban) Gareeb Dass said a gun battle took place between militants and a joint group of police and the BSF at Lancha in February, when it was snowing heavily.

Four militants were reported to have been killed in the encounter, he said, and added the bodies could not be recovered then as these got buried under 10-foot snow.

Mr Dass said as the snow had now started melting, cops came across two bodies of the militants at Lancha last evening. Search was on for the other two bodies, he added. He said two AK rifles had also been recovered by the police search team.

Official sources said as many as three militants struck at Bathoi in Mahore late at night and went to the house of Mohammad Shafi.

After making certain queries the militants slit his throat and also fired few shots at him, the sources added.

The same militants later forced entry into the house of Qamar Din in the nearby Malan village and slit his throat also.

The sources said before escaping into the forests, the militants went to the house of Roshan Din at Neeram and dragged him out. They tortured and later killed him by slitting his throat, the sources added. The three were killed by militants as they suspected them to be security forces’ informers.

Official sources said in the wake of intelligence inputs that militants, mostly foreigners, had made their hideouts in the Pir Panjal ranges in Udhampur and Doda districts, over 2,000 jawans from the Army, BSF and police have spread out in the Gool, Banihal and Rajgarh areas three days back to flush them out.

The troops had zeroed in on at least 15 places in the hills and plugged all escape routes. The movement of civilians, including nomads and shepherds, had been strictly banned in the areas to avoid casualties.
At least 12 militants, including top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, were said to be holed up in the cordoned parts of the hills, the sources added. —

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Turkish security forces kill 21 terrorists

    ANKARA, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish security forces killed 21 militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party, or PKK, on Thursday in an operation launched in Turkey's southeastern region.

    Semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported that the members of the terrorist organization were killed in Dereler region between the cities of Siirt and Sirnak in southeastern Turkey, adding that operations are underway in the region.

    At the same day, the PKK militants killed a first lieutenant and two soldiers in a clash which erupted in Pervari Township in Siirt, the report said.

    Last week, Turkish security forces have launched the biggest operation against militants of the PKK in the last six years in southeastern border including cities of Sirnak and Hakkari.

    The PKK which aims at establishing an independent Kurdish state launched an armed campaign against the Turkish government in 1984.More than 30,000 people, mostly Kurds, have been killed in the violence in the mainly Kurdish southeast since then.

    Fighting has subdued significantly since PKK commander Abdullah Ocalan was captured in 1999.

    But the PKK called off a unilateral ceasefire in 2004, disrupting the fragile peace.

    The Turkish government refuses to negotiate with the PKK which it deems as a terrorist organization.
 

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Iraqi forces take charge of deadly Baghdad neighborhood

BY COLIN MCMAHON

BAGHDAD, Iraq - (KRT) - Iraqi forces do some things better than the American troops who train them. They talk with regular Iraqis better. They are sharper at spotting suspicious characters. They understand cultural complexities. It's a good thing too. The Iraqis who have just taken charge of a scarred neighborhood in southern Baghdad will need all those skills and more.

Officials said Tuesday that a 600-man Iraqi battalion assumed control over one of the deadliest parts of the capital: a 10-square-mile section of the Dora neighborhood. "Today, I officially take over the area," said Col. Ali al-Obeidi of the Iraqi Army's Sixth Division. "It is time ... for Dora to be settled just like Haifa Street."

Haifa Street is another troubled area of Baghdad that was passed over to Iraqi control in February. Though it remains a tense and violent stretch - "settled" is not a word many residents of the area would likely use - Haifa Street has calmed significantly since the Jan. 30 elections and the changing of the guard.

Dora promises to be every bit as challenging. A highway splits the neighborhood, and its residential streets bleed into farm fields on the outskirts, giving insurgents and criminal gangs multiple target areas, hiding spots and escape routes. Dora's people are a mix of Sunni Muslims, Shiites and Christians who have become infected with fear and suspicion amid a torrent of kidnappings, bombings and assassinations. Scores have died in recent months.

Some Sunnis fiercely resent the new Iraqi leaders, the U.S. military they say has created a puppet government and the Iraqi police and soldiers. "You cannot really draw any distinction between the Iraqi forces and the Americans," said Qayed Ismail, 31, an agricultural engineer. "The Iraqis use the same style as the Americans."

To those in Dora who support an insurgency they consider honorable resistance, the American style is a mix of terrifying sweeps by tanks, troops and helicopters with mass arrests of people whose only crime is going to mosque. At Yassin mosque Tuesday, a small group of Sunni men gathered for afternoon prayers conducted by an imam who spent more than a month in U.S. detention late last year. The imam is filling in for the full-time cleric who has been in an American prison since November.

"The imams all know that a word against the Americans will lead to arrest," said Mohammed Fayik, a 21-year-old student and son of the imam. "Most of those who come to pray are worried," said Fayik, who was jailed along with his father. "Maybe next time it is our turn."

The Americans say they have good reason to listen to what is said and to watch what is done at Yassin mosque. In November a neighbor's tip led U.S. forces to raid the mosque. In the parking lot they found cars packed with mortars, grenades, machine guns, bulletproof vests and bomb-making equipment. Thus the arrests.

Yassin mosque is a modest house of worship surrounded by lots vacant but for piles of bricks and clumps of trash. Yet after it was completed following the fall of Saddam Hussein, the mosque became an object of bitter conflict between Dora's Sunnis and Shiites. The Sunnis won out. The bitterness remains.

Into this walk al-Obeidi and his 600 men, backed by 50 U.S. military advisers.

Already, the Iraqi commander said, Iraqi forces have put their mark on Dora. In a series of raids Monday by about 500 Iraqis backed by 200 U.S. troops, the soldiers detained four men suspected of playing major roles in insurgent groups linked to al-Qaida. More than 60 other people also were arrested.

"For these four, the crimes were murder, assassination, beheadings, bombings and attacks against Iraqi security forces and American forces," Col. Edward Cardon of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division told Agence France-Presse.

The men praying at Yassin mosque do not dispute that such crimes haunt Dora. They live there. But they say the people arrested Monday were not the guilty parties. They were just men going to mosque, pulled out of prayers and hauled into detention - American style.

SV-The full panty treatment for these guys.

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Navy Ban Man Arrested Again

By Ben Mitchell, PA

A man who managed to get on board a US aircraft carrier was arrested today attempting to enter a naval base less than 24 hours after being made subject to an anti-social behaviour order banning him from entering prohibited areas.

Under the terms of the order Abdoul Masmoud Yessoufou was banned yesterday from entering non-public areas of Portsmouth Naval Base after he was caught on board the USS Harry S Truman on Saturday.

But at 8.52am today, the 37-year-old from Newport, Isle of Wight, was arrested as he attempted to enter a gate at Portsmouth Naval Base.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “MOD police arrested a 37-year-old man at an entrance to Portsmouth Naval Base on suspicion of breaching an Asbo.

“He is currently in custody at Portsmouth Central Police Station.”

Yessoufou sparked a security review at the naval base as he managed to get past both Royal and US Navy security to get on board the visiting nuclear-powered warship.

He was able to walk around for two hours unhindered before his presence was realised and he was arrested and detained initially under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Asbo issued by Portsmouth magistrates yesterday banned Yessoufou from entering restricted areas of the naval base, Portsmouth Continental Ferryport and Southampton International Airport, punishable by five years imprisonment.

The court heard that Yessoufou had previously been convicted of entering airside areas at Heathrow on three occasions in February this year and on another occasion at Southampton airport.

[Straight Vermonter]

Feel free to add other stories.

[Straight Vermonter]

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

Terrorist Scorecard

The Iraqi "Deck of Cards" Scoreboard

Centcom's New Iraq Scorecard

Saudi Arabia's Most Wanted Scorecard

[Nathan Zachary]

" The base was comprised of two dugouts and a plastic barrel dug into the ground that was used to store ammunition."

It's amazing what qualifies as a "base".

[Straight Vermonter]

My guess is a little difficulty in translation. They were probably looking for a word like cache.

[Deetes]

He was able to walk around for two hours unhindered before his presence was realised and he was arrested

WTF !!!???

Busy day. Thanks for the ping...

[Nathan Zachary]

Yessoufou sparked a security review at the naval base as he managed to get past both Royal and US Navy security to get on board the visiting nuclear-powered warship. He was able to walk around for two hours unhindered before his presence was realised and he was arrested and detained initially under the Terrorism Act 2000. Now that's shamefull. Who's in command of that ship? Hopefully not any longer.

[ChefKeith]

What kind of "security" are we practicing if this guy can get on board one of our Nuc Carriers and wander for 2 hours?????

[taxesareforever]

What kind of "security" are we practicing if this guy can get on board one of our Nuc Carriers and wander for 2 hours?????

All security is concentrating on abortion clinics. No one left to check for real terrorists.

[Straight Vermonter]

Insurgent leaders reportedly surrender in Mosul
By Salem Arif
Azzaman, April 14, 2005

Four senior leaders of the ongoing insurgency in the northern city of Mosul are said to have surrendered.

Iraqi army officers, refusing to be named, said the four gave themselves up to the authorities after several days of negotiations.

One of the insurgent leaders, called Abu Kifah, had a bounty of millions of dollars on his head.

Two others were reported to have occupied senior positions in the former army and intelligence.

The authorities have revealed very little about the identity of the fourth.

Mosul is scene of almost daily attacks on U.S. and Iraqi troops. Insurgents overrun the city lat year, but the troops regained control following fierce street fighting.

There are still mounting security problems in the city and its suburbs.

The insurgents are active in certain headquarters and outlying districts like Tel Affar.

The suspects, who were reported to have surrendered, led operations in Sillamiya, a restive district south of Mosul.

Meantime, the Mosul police contingent has freed 15 detainees who were found not to have been involved in “armed operations against the security forces and villains,” a police statement said.

[Straight Vermonter]

Member of Zarqawi group arrested in Karbala

BAGHDAD, April 14 (KUNA) -- A member of the Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi group was apprehended by Iraqi security forces in the southern city of Karbala, police chief in the holy city Abbas Al-Husseini said.

Al-Husseini said in a press statement policemen in Karbala arrested Hamed Obeis, an Iraqi national who masterminded the killing of some foreigners and a number of policemen in southern Iraq.

Obeis, he added, was also behind a number of car bombs in and outside Karbala, which killed hundreds of Iraqis.

[Straight Vermonter]

Thanks for the stories Wiz.

[Route101]

Roll'in...Roll'in...Roll'in...keep those doggies rolli'n...Rawhide!

[Coop]

Members of al-Qaeda Use and Distribute Drugs

Alright, that's it! I've lost respect for Al Qaeda.

[Coop]

“Over the last three days, the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police, Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers have taken more than 70 suspected terrorists into custody,” said Lt. Col. Clifford Kent, a Task Force Baghdad spokesperson. “Our capabilities continue to grow and improve every day as our Iraqi Security Forces counterparts grow stronger.”

Including at least one of Zarqawi's goons. Awesome work by the Iraqis and our coalition forces!

Guess I must have missed the lamestream media's major headlines on this yesterday and this morning...

[Cap Huff]

Just say no . . .

[Cap Huff]

Here’s something else interesting in a press release about a guy captured in Afghanistan:

“The person detained in the operation, whose name was not being released, is described as a possible cell leader for a local group, a Task Force Longhorn official said.”

And then:

"The number of these caches turned in by Afghans is increasing as people realize that Afghanistan is becoming more stable and safe," Hicks said. He estimates that each week coalition forces collect about eight tons of explosives across Afghanistan.

ANA Detains Possible Terror Cell Leader During Sweep

[csvset]

Abdoul Masmoud Yessoufou leaving court yesterday

[Coop]

He estimates that each week coalition forces collect about eight tons of explosives across Afghanistan.

Wow. Impressive statistic! Thanks for posting.

[csvset]

What kind of "security" are we practicing if this guy can get on board one of our Nuc Carriers and wander for 2 hours?????

I'll try to shed a little light on port vists and tours aboard carriers. It sounds as though vistors had to gain access to the shipyard in order to gain access to the ship. If that's the case, then it was the duty of the host country, (in this case the Brits), to determine who does or does not gain access to shipyard.

As far as the shipboard tours go, alot of that depends on what country you're in. As a general rule of thumb, countries that are deemed relatively "safe", general visting would be allowed, in effect, the local yokels can visit the ship.

Generally, groups of the locals would be led on guided tours of the ship, at no time would anyone be allowed to roam about on their own. The tours would last 30-45 minutes and they're shuffled off of the boat.

Some ports were more restrictive, the general public could not visit en mass and there weren't any guided tours, crew members, however, could bring locals aboard. Again, no unescorted visitors.

Other ports, only official guests, (local big wigs), would be allowed aboard.

That's more or less how it was on the four carriers I served on, ( two conventional, two nukes), all pre 9-11-2001.

If the ship is pierside, the crowds move fairly quickly. If the ship is anchored out and required boating, the tour cycles took awhile, (the 30-45 minutes of actual tour, waiting for a boat to transport them to & from the ship).

So, if the guy got on the shipyard, had to wait for a boat to get to the ship, take the tour and then wait for the return boat, that could take two hours, easy.

Nonetheless, this guy shouldn't be roaming about anywhere, imho.

[beebuster2000]

awesome. thanks for the post.