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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080323-04
March 23, 2008

Suspected IED emplacers attacked in vicinity of Samarra
Multi-National Division – North

SAMARRA, Iraq – Suspected improvised explosive device emplacers were killed and some injured in a pre-dawn attack after five individuals were spotted conducting suspicious activity in an area historically known for terrorist IED emplacement near Samarra March 22.
 
Coalition forces perceived hostile intent after confirming that there were no known friendly or authorized Sons of Iraq checkpoints in the area.
 
A local sheikh later confirmed the names of the Iraqis killed and wounded. Coalition forces compared the names to a list of all registered Sons of Iraq members, and there were no matches.
 
Over the past 30 days, there have been eight significant IED events within five kilometers of the location of this incident. Seven of the eight were sub-surfaced emplaced, which are normally emplaced during hours of darkness and are designed to cause multiple casualties. Al Qaeda in Iraq is emplacing these IEDs in an attempt to deny Iraqi and Coalition forces freedom of movement. 
 
Coalition forces have initiated an investigation. 

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR DSN 318-856-0218