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| Iraq |
| Kidnap Victims Freed, News Delayed |
| 2006-08-29 |
| CentCom just released this today but the kidnap victims were freed almost a week ago. There's more to this story than we know, I think. 1st Sqdn., 61ST CAV. REGT. SOLDIERS FREE TWO KIDNAPS VICTIMS IN ADHAMIYAH FOB LOYALTY, Iraq – Two kidnap victims were freed Wednesday by Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, in the Adhamiyah district of eastern Baghdad. Soldiers from Troop B, 1st Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., observed an Iraqi citizen running from a nearby house; when they caught up to him, he said he and his friend were being held against their will. The victim said he had escaped when the kidnappers, hearing the sound of Coalition humvees nearby, fled to the roof of the building where he was being held. “The guy was running away, and we actually had to catch up to him,” said Spc. Kenneth Correa, a member the Troop B commander’s personal security detail. “We got him, and he said that his friend was still in the house.” MND-B Soldiers surrounded the home. Inside they found the second victim, whose hands and feet were bound. The criminals fled the scene before MND-B Soldiers were able to cordon off the building. The victims, a Shiite and a Sunni, told the Soldiers that they had been riding motorcycles and had just crossed the A’ Iamma bridge going into Adhamiyah when they were surrounded by the four armed kidnappers, who were also on motorcycles. Inter-gang rivalry? The criminals took them to a transfer point south of the Abu Hanifa Mosque. At that point, the victims were forced into the back of a vehicle and taken to the home where Soldiers found them. Soldiers from 1st Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt., have located and freed 10 kidnap victims in the past two weeks. “Over the last couple of months, (kidnapping) has been one of the focuses,” said Lt. Col. Brian Winski, commander, 1st Sqdn., 61st Cav. Regt. He said both Col. Thomas Vail, the 4th BCT commander and Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commanding general, MND-B, have increased measures to stop the sectarian violence in east Baghdad. Although many kidnappings are motivated by sectarian tensions in the area, it is unlikely this particular incident falls into that category, Winski said. Soldiers questioned civilians living nearby about the incident and an investigation is ongoing. The victims were released to Iraqi police Another suggestion that the 'victims' may not have been strictly victims. in their home neighborhood of Khadamiyah. |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #2 Especially given that the two were respectively a Shia & a Sunni. That itself is kind of peculiar, if they're members of the underground economy. As S.M. Stirling loves to point out, the multi-ethnic gang is a creature rarely encountered outside of a movie theatre. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2006-08-29 12:59 |
| #1 Although many kidnappings are motivated by sectarian tensions in the area, it is unlikely this particular incident falls into that category, Winski said. Lots of hints dropped. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-08-29 11:51 |