Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070703-04
July 3, 2007

CF destroy homemade explosives factory
Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition Forces destroyed a homemade explosives factory in the Diyala River Valley, July 1st.
 
The factory, which was located in a single story unfinished brick structure outside the village of Mikbisa, northeast of Baqouba, was discovered on Sunday night by CF who were conducting routine patrols and noticed the suspicious looking structure.
 
Upon entering the building, CF discovered large amounts of fertilizer, ammonium nitrate and nitric acid, all key ingredients used in making explosives.  The house also contained a drying room in which the entire floor was covered with over 500 lbs of recently manufactured HME.  Additionally, a number of chemical suits and other clothing items used to work with chemicals, to include boots, goggles, vapor masks and a large number of chemical gloves were found inside the house.
 
“This is a significant find and confirms that al-Qaida is working against the good people of Iraq,” said Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commanding general of Multinational Division-North and Task Force Lightning.  “We have seen these homemade explosives in IEDs and car bombs that have been used against the ISF, CF and innocent people of Diyala.”
 
When they had finished searching the building, CF destroyed the house and all of its contents.
 
“The fact that this factory was discovered and destroyed will undoubtedly save many lives in Iraq,” said Mixon.

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