troop letter: the Office of the Commanding General

November 08, 2009

Child’s bicycle laden with explosives found by SoI

Multi-National Division – North PAO

Riyadh, Iraq – Sons of Iraq members and Iraqi Police in Riyadh thwarted an attempt by terrorists to place a bicycle laden with explosives near a busy market area Sept. 21.

SoI and IP, at a nearby checkpoint, observed a truck whose occupants unloaded a bicycle then left it as they departed the area at a high-rate of speed. Upon further investigation, they noticed a suspicious white bag attached to the bicycle’s frame, and immediately notified Soldiers of Delta Company, 1-87 Inf. Regt., located nearby at Patrol Base Howell.  SoI and IP commonly work together in this city.

“We are grateful for the brave public servants of Iraq to include the Iraqi Police and the Sons of Iraq who acted quickly to avert what might have been a horrendous attack against the citizens of Riyadh as felt today in another attack just outside the city of Kirkuk, the provincial capital,” Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek, commander, 1st Battalion, 87th Inf. Regt., 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division said.

A Coalition forces explosive ordinance disposal team was dispatched to the scene and confirmed the presence of an improvised explosive device. The EOD team safely facilitated its removal—detonating the device at a secure location.

“Today’s event symbolizes everything the terrorist and insurgents represent. While Iraqi Security Forces and the Coalition force do everything possible to respect the significance of Ramadan, the terrorists use a child’s toy to potentially cause death and destruction to the innocent, unsuspecting residents of Riyadh during this sacred, holy month,” Vanek said.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT:  e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR DSN 318-856-0218

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From the Office of the Commanding General: 
CG’s Counterinsurgency Guidance
(Sept. 2008)