Thirteen arrested in connection with Tuesday's bombings in Baghdad

By Mohammed al-Qaisi in Baghdad
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-12-14

[SABAH ARAR/AFP/Getty Images] Iraqi tribal leaders and athletes demonstrated against the deadly attacks on December 10th.

Iraqi security forces have arrested 13 individuals believed to be connected to last Tuesday's bombings, Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told parliament on Sunday (December 13th).

"Ongoing investigations revealed that 13 individuals were involved in those bombings," al-Bolani said. "They were all arrested in Baghdad, Anbar, and Salah al-Din.

They will be convicted by the judiciary, and will be hanged soon."

The December 10th attacks killed more than 127 and wounded hundreds others.

Iraqi state television aired part of al-Bolani's speech, in which he described the operation to identify the masterminds of the bombings as a grueling one, requiring much time and effort.

"We have also arraigned several members of the police where investigations have proved they were involved because of their negligence and failure to control the security of the areas."

Al-Bolani added that the defendants confessed their involvement in the attacks and described how they carried out the crime. The interior minister expressed his confidence in the speed of the judicial system.

Al-Bolani did not reveal the identities of the accused or their places of residence, but described them as part of a network that extended across several Iraqi provinces.

Meanwhile, officials praised Iraqi police and security forces for their quick response and the arrest of the 13 individuals.

"The arrests were made in record time based on important intelligence, support, and advice contributed by US forces," Col. Nabil Jassim of the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Mawtani.com.

"We started our work by investigating the number plates of the car bombs that hit Baghdad. Then we investigated a series of suspects, and then a gang specializing in forgery which the terrorists used to get the vehicles to the center of the capital," Jassim said.

After the Interior Ministry's announcement, relatives of the victims gathered to demand that authorities allow the families to attend the court hearings and to broadcast the trials live.

"I want to see the killers and how their faces will look like when the death penalty is pronounced against them," said Hussein Khalifa, 54, father of a victim.

Saad Allawi, 37, said the killers must be executed.

"The convicts should be hanged at the same place where the bombings took place and in front of the families of victims so that this may be a lesson for anyone who tries to commit crimes against Iraqis," said Chairman of Iraqi Parliament's Security and Defence Committee Hadi al-Amri.

"This measure will be the best gift we can give to Iraqis, especially those who lost family or children in those bombings."

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