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FOB RUSTAMIYAH, Iraq, August 24, 2006 - One of the most heinous tactics used by criminals in east Baghdad is to kidnap locals for ransom and use the money to buy weapons and explosives against the Iraqi people. One such plot was foiled August 18, when soldiers from Company C and Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, rescued three kidnapping victims near Al Jara in east Baghdad and detained a suspect in connection with the crime. "Alpha Troop was out there looking for a cache," said SGT Jonathan McCray, fire support noncommissioned officer, Troop A. "Charlie Company came back around just to assist. They went a little farther into the village, and they found the kidnapping." Company C troops were moving from house to house when they heard shouting from the home. "One of the guys got loose. Apparently he got the blindfold off and was screaming and hollering," said SGT Anthony Barnes, platoon sergeant, Company C. "When we heard him screaming, we moved to the house. We were going to that house next anyway." The victims, all from the same extended family, had been bound, blindfolded and beaten with coax wire and red hot metal bars on their backs, legs and heads. They had been kidnapped mere hours earlier. "Nothing was truly broken," said McCray. "It had only been one, maybe two hours before we got to them, and they were already beat up pretty good." After locating the victims, the 1st Squadron soldiers began a house-by-house search of all of the structures in the surrounding area. The soldiers detained a suspect after being identified on the scene by the victims. The three victims were transported to Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah by Troop A, where they were evaluated and treated at the aid station there. The suspect was transported to a separate location to be questioned. The victims said 15 kidnappers were involved in kidnapping and assault. Coalition forces hope that by questioning the detainee, they can gain information that will allow them to break up the kidnapping ring for good. |
