Thomas Harding
London
Telegraph
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A senior Iraqi policeman who allegedly masterminded the abduction
of two SAS soldiers last year was arrested yesterday following
a major security operation in Basra.
Under cover of thick fog, 800 British troops in tanks and armoured
vehicles swooped on the home of the policeman and six other Iraqi
officers.
Military sources indicated last night that a substantial blow
had been struck against the rogue militias who have been responsible
for killing hundreds in Iraq's second biggest city.
All the officers come from Basra's notorious Serious Crimes Unit
that, as one military commander said yesterday was a "pretty
appropriate" name for its activities.
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The two SAS troopers were allegedly minutes away from being sold
to insurgents and certain death after they were abducted by rogue
police at a checkpoint in the Jamiat area of Basra on Sept 19
last year.
As British forces attempted to move in to free the men from a
police station, serious unrest ensued.
Aware of reports that the troops were about to be exchanged for
money - and would inevitably end up in orange jump suits before
being beheaded - the British commander ordered a Challenger II
tank to knock down the police station's wall in a rescue operation.
While the SAS men were saved, the operation led to a breakdown
in Britain's relations with local politicians and police commanders
that was only resolved this summer.
The senior officer was also allegedly responsible for the kidnapping
and murder of 17 police translators, trainers and cleaners travelling
in a minibus in October.
Under orders from the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki,
the SCU will now be disbanded, sources said.
A senior military official in Basra said: "This is one of
the major organs that contribute to death squads in Basra. They
dress in police uniform, use police cars, police pistols and will
murder just for political or criminal gain. The CSU are a significant
part of death squad activity in Basra.
"This operation was designed to remove one of key ringleaders
in preparation for the subsequent disbandment of the CSU."
The death squad killings are part of a bloody turf war between
Shia factions competing for control of the city's oil wealth,
which is the source of most of the Iraqi government's revenues.
Thanks to the fog, the force of 35 Warrior armoured vehicles
and five Challenger II tanks were able to surround seven houses
in Basra. Troops made the arrests without a shot being fired.
Soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment, Duke of Lancaster's, Staffordshires
and Royal Green Jackets used the weather to quietly remove the
suspects, completing the operation in 40 minutes.
All seven suspects were taken back to British bases where six
were said to be co-operating.
For the last three months the British have been conducting Operation
Sinbad, partly aimed at rooting out rogue Shia militia elements
who have infiltrated the police. With identity cards and retinal
scans introduced for all policemen it is hoped that yesterday's
operation will establish greater stability.
Britain hopes to pull out half of its 7,200 troops next year
and hand over control of Basra to Iraqi authorities, although
this is dependent on security conditions on the ground.
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