Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Leaders of car-bombing ring captured
Security
(AP) - Leaders of a car-bombing ring believed responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Iraqis in the Shiite Sadr City enclave and elsewhere in Baghdad have been captured, the U.S. military said on Monday. The suspected bombers were rounded up last week by American forces during continuing security sweeps in Azamiyah, the Sunni stronghold in northern Baghdad, the military statement said.
The U.S. command said one of the detained men, Haitham al-Shimari, was suspected in the "planning and execution of the majority of car bombs which have killed hundreds of Iraqi citizens in Sadr City." The reported "second-in-command" of the Azamiyah-based cell, Haidar al-Jafar, was arrested the same day. The military said that group had "killed approximately 900 innocent Iraqi citizens" and wounded 1,950. Three other men believed connected to the bombing cell also were in custody, the military said.
The U.S. command said one of the detained men, Haitham al-Shimari, was suspected in the "planning and execution of the majority of car bombs which have killed hundreds of Iraqi citizens in Sadr City." The reported "second-in-command" of the Azamiyah-based cell, Haidar al-Jafar, was arrested the same day. The military said that group had "killed approximately 900 innocent Iraqi citizens" and wounded 1,950. Three other men believed connected to the bombing cell also were in custody, the military said.
Labels: Azamiyah, car bombs, Haidar al-Jafar, Haitham al-Shimari, Sadr City
