February 3, 2007

IA captures death squad leader operating in southern Baghdad

Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20070200-11

Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – Special Iraqi Army Forces successfully removed another violent and deadly criminal from the streets of Iraq after capturing a suspected death squad leader Feb. 1 during operations with Coalition advisers in southern Baghdad.

The death squad leader is allegedly responsible for carrying out kidnapping and murders against innocent Iraqi civilians in the Hai al Aamel, Al Bayaa and Al Sayidiyah neighborhoods.

The suspect allegedly runs a cell that consists of over 20 men. The suspect and his group are implicated in setting up illegal checkpoints in order to kidnap Iraqi civilians and murder them. The leader and his cell are implicated in the kidnapping of thee Iraqi civilians Dec. 10, 2006 and burning them alive.

The suspect is also allegedly responsible for the torture and murder of an Iraqi school principal after he refused to allow the suspect to use the school as a place to conduct illegal interrogations and judicial killings. The school and another in the area were reportedly forced to close due to fears of continued violence.

There was minimal damage done to the objective. There were no Iraqi civilian, Iraqi Force or Coalition force casualties.

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