Suicide-bomb car maker nabbed

2005-06-14 19:17

Baghdad - Security forces have captured a reputed key member of Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi's al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist group who was accused of building and selling cars used by suicide bombers, said the Iraqi government on Tuesday.

It said the suspect was identified as Jassim Hazan Hamadi al-Bazi, also known as Abu Ahmed, who was arrested on June 7.

It added that he was part of an al-Qaeda cell run by a man identified as Hussayn Ibrahim.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq and other extremist Islamic groups had been blamed for many of the suicide car bombings, beheadings and attacks that had killed 1 009 people since the Shiite-led government was announced on February 28.

According to the announcement, al-Bazi built and sold remote-controlled bombs used in roadside attacks from an electronic repair shop in Balad, 80km north of Baghdad.

Gun battle between insurgents, cops

It added that al-Bazi sold the bombs for about $18 000 each "and was involved in building suicide vehicle's bombs and landmines that were used in Balad and Samarra, 95km north of Baghdad.

One such suicide car bomb attack in Samarra on Monday between insurgents and police killed three policemen and a civilian.

It said al-Bazi "was also an active weapons dealer selling missiles, guns, mortars and hand grenades.

"Iraqi security officials believe he is a primary suspect for providing weapons and the training for attacks against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government and the Iraqi security forces".

- AP