(30 Oct 2003)
1. US soldiers on Humvee on their way to raid
2. Soldiers searching cupboard inside raided house
3. Soldiers searching behind bed
4. Detainee with head covered surrounded by soldiers
5. Close up of hands tied behind back
6. Woman watching as husband is arrested
7. Suspect being taken out of the house
8. Children watching at the doorway
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell, 4th Infantry Division, US Army:
"We're targetting what we suspect were a terrorist cell network, a couple of potential cells beginning to form and operate in Tikrit, planning attacks, conducting attacks, against coalition forces."
10. Detainee being put onto truck
STORYLINE:
American troops fanned out across downtown Tikrit in pre-dawn raids on Thursday, and detained several suspects believed to be setting up a new terrorist cell in Saddam's hometown, the U.S. military said.
Raids of six houses were carried out following "reliable intelligence" that the suspects were helping to establish a new terrorist network in Tikrit, and planning terrorist attacks against coalition forces, according to Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell of the 4th Infantry Division.
Tikrit is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Baghdad and is part of the so-called Sunni Triangle, an area to the north and west of Baghdad that is considered a hotbed of anti-American sentiment.
The area around Tikrit has been the scene of increased attacks on U.S. troops, which coalition forces blame on die-hard Saddam supporters and members of his Fedayeen militia.
Four key suspects were detained on Thursday, and ten others were taken in for questioning, Russell said.
Troops discovered false identification cards and multiple fake licence plates with "official government stickers" in one of the houses, Russell said.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
