insurgent cell leaders confess to beheading seven people

Samarra citizens support commando operations

MOSUL, Iraq – The Iraqi police service’s Emergency Response Unit conducted several operations against insurgents Feb. 12 through March 7, assaulting 49 buildings and capturing two insurgent cell leaders, two high value targets, and several other suspects who are now in custody of the Ministry of Interior.

One of the cell leaders confessed to 45 murders, numerous rapes, improvised explosive device attacks and the murder of an ERU operator. Two men captured during raids by the ERU confessed to kidnapping and beheading seven people, including the ERU member, according to a multinational force report.

The ERU provides a national, high-end, rapid-response law enforcement tactical unit responsible for high-risk search, arrest, hostage-rescue and crisis response operations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2005 Contact: Capt. Tim Jeffers IRAQNA Cell: 011-964-0790-191-0653E-mail: jefferstj@mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil PRESS RELEASE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ