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07/10/2005
British troops detain 12 in Basra raid
British troops have detained 12 people, suspected of involvement of recent attacks against allied troops, in the southern Iraq city of Basra.
The raid, which took place on Thursday night, is believed to have taken place at the home of an Iraqi police officer.
It has also been reported that a number of Iraqi police officers were among those detained, as well as a number of members from local militia groups.
The Ministry of Defence did not confirm those reports, but said that weaponry had been seized during the raids.
The raid comes two weeks after British troops carried out a rescue operation to free two soldiers arrested by Iraqi police. The men were later freed from a nearby house, where it is believed local Shia militia took them.
Following the rescue, concerns were raised by British officials that militia may have infiltrated the Iraqi police force.
It has been reported that some of those detained in Thursday’s raid are followers of extremist Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who controls the Mahdi militia.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the government suspected that Iran might be supplying explosives to Shia militia in Iraq. However, the claims have been denied by Iran.
(KMcA/GB)
The raid, which took place on Thursday night, is believed to have taken place at the home of an Iraqi police officer.
It has also been reported that a number of Iraqi police officers were among those detained, as well as a number of members from local militia groups.
The Ministry of Defence did not confirm those reports, but said that weaponry had been seized during the raids.
The raid comes two weeks after British troops carried out a rescue operation to free two soldiers arrested by Iraqi police. The men were later freed from a nearby house, where it is believed local Shia militia took them.
Following the rescue, concerns were raised by British officials that militia may have infiltrated the Iraqi police force.
It has been reported that some of those detained in Thursday’s raid are followers of extremist Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who controls the Mahdi militia.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the government suspected that Iran might be supplying explosives to Shia militia in Iraq. However, the claims have been denied by Iran.
(KMcA/GB)
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