27 people arrested on terrorism charges in Iraq's Diyala province

27 people arrested on terrorism charges in Iraq's Diyala province

2011-06-25 04:48:21 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAQUUBA, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Iraqi security forces on Friday announced that 27 individuals were arrested on terrorism and criminal charges in the northern Diyala province.

According to Aswat al-Iraq news agency, the suspected terrorists were detained in three separate security raids in Khalis, Miqdadiyah and the provincial capital city of Baquuba.

The identity of the 27 detainees was not disclosed but most of the arrested individuals are suspected to be al-Qaeda members involved in killing and deportation activities, a security source told Aswat al-Iraq.

The three operations took place on Thursday and early Friday after arrest warrants were issued against the 27 individuals for their alleged involvement in criminal and terrorist acts.

In mid-May, Iraqi security forces arrested four suspected leaders of the al-Qaeda in Iraq network in Samarra city, Salahal-Din Province. One of them was identified as Mikhlif Mohammed Hussein al-Azzawi, aka "Abu Radhwan," the alleged military leader of the al-Qaeda cell in Samarra.

The other high-profiled detainee was Mohammed Saad Muzzaham al-Daraji, the suspected leader of an al-Qaeda in Iraq unit in charge of planning and conducting assassinations.

The fore mentioned two alleged leaders along Fawzi Abbas Ali al-Badri and Qassim Mohammed Taha were considered as some of the most dangerous, most wanted figures of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

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