By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BAGHDAD, Iraq – On January 12 Iraqi security forces arrested twenty five people suspected of plotting attacks throughout Baghdad . They then imposed a temporary curfew on parts of Iraqi capital as they conducted raids and seized explosives. The raid followed a tip-off that a series of car bombings were planned in Baghdad. Security forces were already on heightened alert ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7.
Iraqi police confiscated four hundred forty pounds of C4 explosives, the same amount of TNT and sixty other explosives of different types. Additionally, according to Baghdad security forces spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi, a quantity of ammonium nitrate was found. Ammonium nitrate can be used as an ingredient in bombs.
According to Moussawi, the twenty five men who were arrested “were planning to implement terrorist acts.” Authorities in Iraq also said that at least four, and as many as ten, suicide car bombers were on their way to government buildings on the morning of January 12 when there were stopped by police and arrested.
The raids that followed brought much of Baghdad to a virtual standstill. Hundreds of checkpoints were set up throughout the city. The lockdowns caused gridlock of vehicles on roads into Baghdad. People were forced to travel by foot. Bridges into the center of the city were closed due to the alleged bomb plot, but were later reopened.
Government officials said that the far-reaching plot involved sending suicide bombers with vehicles packed with explosives to blow themselves up at the Ministries of Defense, Health and Trade. Other areas that were to be targeted included public places such as markets. Other insurgents were to be sent to assassinate political and tribal leaders. Mohammed al Askari, a defense ministry spokesman, said that the Iraqi forces received “tips about places (where people were making) car and vest bombs.” This led to the raids by security forces.
American and Iraqi forces have said that there is an expectation that violence will increase sharply as the date of the Iraqi elections grows nearer. The outcome of the Iraqi elections could determine whether American forces are able to withdraw from the country on schedule by the end of 2011.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Arrests, Explosives Seized as Baghdad Car Bombs Foiled – 12 January 2010
Al Jazeera – Bomb Plot Prompts Baghdad Lockdown – 12 January 2010
New York Times – Iraq Says Raid Uncovered Plot to Bomb Ministries – 12 January 2010
Reuters – Iraqi Forces Seize Explosives, Arrest 25 in Raids – 12 January 2010
