VBIED Discovered Near Office of Council of Representatives Member Adnan al-Dulaimi; 40 Members of His Staff Were Detained

Iraqi and Coalition forces discovered a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, or VBIED, near the office compound of Council of Representatives member Adnan al-Dulaimi yesterday while pursuing suspected criminals wanted for the murder of a Concerned Citizen:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi and Coalition forces discovered a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, or VBIED, near the office compound of Council of Representatives member Adnan al-Dulaimi yesterday while pursuing suspected criminals.

More than 40 suspected criminals have been detained as a result of this operation.

Iraqi and Coalition forces responded to a report of the murder of a Concerned Local Citizen member approximately one block from al-Dulaimi's office compound. Witnesses observed the murder.

Coalition forces found a car matching the description of one that left the murder scene parked in the street and two men apparently taking refuge in al-Dulaimi's office compound. Coalition and Iraqi forces questioned al-Dulaimi's security guards and detained eight of them.

Independent of the murder investigation, a separate vehicle was found on the street outside of al-Dulaimi's office compound, and it appeared to be wired as a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, or SVBIED. One of the eight detained security guards had in his possession the keys to the SVBIED.

An additional five suspects were detained at a checkpoint near the office compound.

During the transfer of detainees, one suspect escaped. Iraqi Security Forces fired at the fleeing man, wounding two civilians, who were transported to a local hospital.

Coalition forces destroyed the VBIED with a controlled detonation, but a secondary explosion wounded five Coalition force soldiers and one Iraqi civilian, who was evacuated to a medical treatment facility. The Coalition force soldiers sustained only minor injuries and were returned to duty.

Iraqi security forces went to the residence of al-Dulaimi, approximately a half kilometer from his office compound, where they found him at home, detained 30-40 additional security and staff, and asked al-Dulaimi to remain in his residence for his own personal safety. Iraqi Security Forces posted guards outside his home and placed a curfew in the area.

The incidents are currently under investigation.

As many are want to say: developing....