BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A suicide bomber captured before he could blow himself up in a Shiite mosque claimed he was kidnapped, beaten and drugged by insurgents who forced him to take on the mission. The U.S. military said its medical tests indicated the man was telling the truth.
Mohammed Ali, who claimed to be Saudi-born and appeared to be in his 20s, said he managed to flee after another suicide attacker set off his bomb, killing at least 12 worshippers Friday as they left a mosque in the northern city of Tuz Khormato.
In confession broadcast on state television later that day, Ali told Iraqi interrogators he did not want to bomb the mosque and hoped to go home.
Results from medical tests on Ali were "consistent with his story and characterization of his treatment," Col. Billy J. Buckner, a U.S. military spokesman said Sunday.
Ali said insurgents kidnapped him from a field near his home earlier this month, then drugged and beat him.
His story was similar to those recounted by other captured militants. The captives routinely claim they were either coerced or fooled by insurgent leaders who promised them a role in the holy war against the U.S. military, only to find themselves as would-be suicide bombers sent to attack civilians.
** So much for the millions of Jihad Johnnys who are more than eager to die for Allah, seems this particular carpet kisser was not that eager to meet the 72 virgins!
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCES CAPTURE KEY TERROR LEADERS IN MOSUL
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Multi-National forces, acting on multiple intelligence sources and tips from local citizens, raided a suspected al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist location in southwest Mosul, Sept. 5, capturing the top al-Qaida leaders in the city.
Captured during the raid was Taha Ibrahim Yasin Becher, (aka Abu Fatima), the al-Qaida in Iraq’s Emir of Mosul, and Hamed Sa’eed Ismael Mustafa, (aka Abu Shahed), the organization’s West Mosul Emir.
Abu Fatima and Abu Shahed were in a meeting at the time of their capture.
Abu Fatima had recently taken over the role of Emir after Abu Talha was captured in June and Abu Zubayr, who replaced Talha, was killed in mid-August. Abu Fatima had only held the position for 12 days when he was captured.
Abu Fatima supervised and directed the day-to-day operations of the organization and was responsible for numerous attacks against Iraqi security and Coalition forces.
Abu Shahed was responsible for organizing al-Qaeda activities in western Mosul. He was responsible for attacks conducted in the area and also participated in attacks involving small arms and other weapons directed against Iraqi security and Coalition forces. As the leader of one of Mosul’s territories he was in line to succeed Abu Fatima in the event of his death or capture.
The simultaneous capture of both leaders damages the organizational structure of al-Qaida in Iraq’s northern network. Abu Fatima and Abu Shahed were both originally from Tall Afar prior to assuming their roles in Mosul. In the past, the Emir position had been filled by terrorists who were already operating in the Mosul area.
Multi-National Force-Iraq announced the Sept. 6 capture of Dara Mohammad Sept. 16.
Dara Mohammad was the Ansar al Sunna Emir of Mosul.
Soldiers foil ambush, find weapons cache in al-Rashid
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Task Force Baghdad Soldiers thwarted a potential ambush and found a weapons cache after investigating suspicious vehicles on a southwest Baghdad road Sept. 16.
The patrol from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, spotted two stationary vehicles with seven dismounted individuals nearby and moved in closer to investigate. One vehicle attempted to drive off, crashed into the lead humvee in the patrol, and fled the area.
The remaining six men, who ran away from the van, scaled a fence and fled the scene. They were not located by the patrol.
The ambush was discovered by 3-7 Inf. Soldiers in the vicinity of a checkpoint they established to control access into the city from the south.
“The [terrorists] had two machine gun positions set up, hidden behind the guardrails,” said Sgt. First Class Rony Michel, an acting platoon leader from Company C, 3-7 Inf. “It was unclear whether the ambush was intended for us or Iraqi Security Force Soldiers who operate in the area.”
The patrol searched the van and confiscated three rocket-propelled grenade rounds, one RPG launcher, seven hand grenades, three fully-loaded AK-47 assault rifles, and two fully-loaded PKC machine guns.
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