IED Attack Rock Central Baghdad

As announced by Multi National Forces-Iraq, an improvised explosive device was used in an attack in central Baghdad today.

Company C, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment reported the incident and went to the area to help. What was left of the improvised explosive device was found in the area, and the military believe that it was camouflaged as a box of goods intended for sale.

25 citizens and three Iraqi Police were hurt during the explosion and eight citizens died. No U.S. forces were reported as being injured during the attack.

"Attacks like this, against innocent Iraqi citizens, are one of the greatest reasons we see the populace making a stand against criminal elements," according to Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bleichwehl, spokesman for Multi-National Division Baghdad. "Criminals who indiscriminately attack innocent people have no place in the city and their actions only serve to further strengthen the resolve of the people to stand against them."

In other areas of Iraq, U.S. Special Forces helped an Iraqi Emergency Response Unit capture five individuals thought to be extremists. The mission developed in Daghgharah, Iraq.

The military was seeking out extremist cells in the area around northern Daghgharah that were believed to be connected to improvised explosive device attacks intended for Coalition and Iraqi forces in Hillah and Diwaniyah. Along with the IED attacks the extremists are thought to be responsible for shipping and storing weapons and collecting information for the IED attacks.

The 8th Iraqi Army Division is in the middle of Operation Lion Pounce which is meant to break up extremist groups working in and around Diwaniyah. This latest mission was in connection with that greater operation. There were no reports of U.S. or Iraqi injuries during the mission.

In areas southeast of Samarra, Coalition forces were seeking out seven individuals in a mission looking for al Qaeda networks.