Members of 9th Iraqi Army Division detained sixteen suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists in two separate intelligence-driven raids Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 near Taji.The targeted individuals are suspected of participating in improvised explosive device attacks against civilians, and Iraqi and Coalition Forces. One suspected terrorist is a known facilitator and manufacturer of vehicle-borne IEDs, while another extremist allegedly supplies weapons to an al-Qaeda in Iraq cell in Taji.
Nine AK-47 rifles with eleven loaded magazines, one anti-aircraft machine gun with a belt of ammunition, and one hand-held machine gun were seized during the raids.
In a separate operation Sept. 11, Iraqi Special Operations Forces detained a ShiÂ’a extremist, who is suspected of using his position in the Ministry of Interior to kidnap and murder Sunni citizens in the Jihad area of Baghdad.
Additionally, the suspected terrorist cell he operates is allegedly responsible for IED and mortar attacks against Iraqi and Coalition Forces in addition to innocent citizens who stand against the groupÂ’s criminal activities.
Four AK-47 rifles, one Uzi sub-machine gun, two pistols, one machine gun, and computer equipment were seized while four other individuals, suspected of being linked to his cell, were detained. U.S. Special Forces were advisers during these operations and there were no Iraqi or U.S. injuries during these raids.