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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071028-02
October 28, 2007

Iraqi Police EOD commander disarms large VBIED in Qayyarah 
Multi-National Division – North PAO

QAYYARAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police from the southern Ninevah Province town of Qayyarah stopped a large vehicle-borne improvised explosive device Oct. 25, before its driver had a chance to detonate it.

Local police received a tip from a citizen about the suspected large fuel truck that was rigged as a VBIED.  Moving in to investigate, they learned the driver had parked the device on the Qayyarah Bridge, told a local national on the ground that he was going to blow up the bridge, and then jumped off the bridge into the water below.

Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal specialists, led by Lt. Col. Kahlid, arrived on the site and Kahlid personally moved to the vehicle and disarmed the VBIED.

Upon examination, the vehicle was found to contain approximately 50,000 lbs. of unknown bulk explosive.

“This is an incredible act of selflessness on the part of (Lt. Col.) Kahlid, moving into harm’s way to prevent this VBIED from destroying the bridge and causing significant injuries and loss of life to those in the area,” said Lt. Col. Robert McLaughlin, commander of the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.  “His actions epitomize the quality and discipline that we are seeing examples of throughout the Iraqi Security Forces on a daily basis.”

The initiation system and all detonator components were removed from the vehicle and it was destroyed by the Iraqi EOD specialists in a controlled detonation.

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