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http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Release.asp?NewsRelease=20050708.txt
NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
July 14, 2005
Release Number: 05-07-08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KEY AL QAIDA LEADERS CAPTURED IN IRAQ
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Multi-National Forces conducted several raids here recently capturing more than 30 terrorists, including two reported high ranking Al-Qaida leaders with ties to its leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to a military spokesman.
Among those captured and close confidants to al-Zarqawi are Abdulla Ibrahim Muhammed Hassan al Shadad, or Abu Abdul Aziz and Khamis Farhan Khalaf Abd al Fahdawi, or Abu Seba. Aziz served Zarqawi as both a terrorist cell leader in Baghdad and as an operations officer for al-Qaida in Iraq and was captured here July 10.
According to authorities, Aziz is cooperating with Mutli-National Forces.
Coalition Operations in Ar Ramadi secured the capture of Abu Seba July 9 after intelligence provided information that led to his whereabouts. Seba served as a senior lieutenant of Al Qaida in Iraq, and is suspected in attacks against diplomats of Bahrain, Pakistan and the recent murder of Egyptian envoy, Ihab Salah al Din Ahmad al Sharif. Al Qaida ordered the attacks against Arab diplomats in an effort to reduce support for the government of Iraq according to a military spokesman.
During these raids vital information, evidence and equipment were recovered that implicate both Aziz and Seba as members of Zarqawi’s leadership cell.
Other information discovered included computer equipment, weapons, pornography, propaganda and documents.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER AT (703) 270-0279 / 0299 / 0321 / 0319 / 0273 / 0320.
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2005/20050714_2066.html
New Details Emerge About Thwarted Baghdad Suicide Attack
American Forces Press Service
BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 14, 2005 – As military officials continue to investigate a thwarted suicide-bomb attack today, new details are emerging about how the events unfolded.
Two bombers with explosives strapped to their bodies approached a coalition forces checkpoint in central Baghdad shortly before 9 a.m., after a car bomb exploded about 200 meters outside the same checkpoint.
Initially, the two suicide bombers were in front of the car that exploded, then they began walking toward the Iraqi police and Iraqi army soldiers who were responding to the car bomb. U.S. military officials said they suspect the two bombers might have been targeting the first responders to the car-bomb attack.
An Iraqi soldier shot one suicide bomber, and, as the bomber fell to the ground, his explosives detonated.
Shrapnel from that explosion wounded the second suicide bomber.
"The (Iraqi) soldiers were about to pick him up and treat him like one of the wounded but then they noticed that he was wearing a suicide vest," said Maj. Alayne Conway, 4th Brigade Combat Team spokesperson.
That bomber was then shot by the (Iraqi police) and put in the back of a nearby pick-up truck until an Iraqi explosive ordnance detonation team could arrive to disarm the vest, rendering the area safe and preventing further casualties.
"The Iraqi EOD soldier was the real hero of the day as he approached the wounded suicide bomber and disarmed the vest," Conway said.
The vest was eventually turned over to coalition forces as part of their investigation.
The wounded bomber, paralyzed by bomb shrapnel and gunfire, was taken to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad's International Zone, where he remains in critical condition.
Four local Iraqi citizens were also wounded in the terrorist attack and evacuated to a local hospital.
(From a Task Force Baghdad news release.)
Related Site:
Multinational Force Iraq
Related Article:
Suicide Bomber Stopped Near Checkpoint Before Attack
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