Posted on 05/29/2007 5:20:13 AM PDT by leadpenny
Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 11:44 GMT 12:44 UK
Five Britons are reported to have been kidnapped from the Iraqi finance ministry in Baghdad. They included four bodyguards and a finance expert, earlier reported to be German.
"We are aware of reports that a group of Westerners have been kidnapped. We are urgently looking into them," the UK foreign office said.
The foreign office is set to hold an emergency meeting on the situation and is assembling a crisis team.
Baghdad was also wracked by a bus explosion which killed at least 22 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 15 people and hurt at least 36.
The US military also announced that two of its soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday in Diyala province.
There are conflicting reports about exactly how Tuesday's abduction took place and how many people are missing.
Some reports say the kidnappers were driving what appeared to be police vehicles and wearing police commando uniforms.
The missing security guards are all believed to have been working for the GardaWorld security agency. Their abducted client was thought to be advising the Iraqi finance ministry.
About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though this is thought to be the first time an abduction has been staged at a government facility.
God bless em. can´t trust anyone in that country.
The recent hostage taking of British sailors by the Iranians seems to be encouraging others to try it. Let’s hope this ends the same way: with them ALIVE.
(same link)
Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 13:48 GMT 14:48 UK
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Five Britons ‘seized in Baghdad’
Witnesses said police units sealed off the street outside the ministry
Five Britons are reported to have been kidnapped from Iraq’s finance ministry in Baghdad.
They included four bodyguards and a finance expert. Earlier reports said the expert was German.
Witnesses and sources told the BBC that the kidnappers wore police uniforms and arrived in up to 40 police vehicles.
“We are aware of reports that a group of Westerners have been kidnapped. We are urgently looking into them,” the UK foreign office said.
The foreign office is set to hold an emergency meeting on the situation and is assembling a crisis team.
Also on Tuesday, Baghdad was shaken by a bus explosion which killed at least 22 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 15 people and hurt at least 36.
The US military also announced that two of its soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday in Diyala province.
Renegade police?
There are conflicting reports about exactly how Tuesday’s abduction took place and how many people are missing.
Witnesses said it was carried out by what appeared to be a police unit.
The street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers, in police camouflage uniforms, walked straight past guards at the finance ministry building on Palestine Street, the witnesses said.
A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation.
The BBC’s Paul Wood in Baghdad says that if such reports are true, it could point to the involvement of a renegade police unit, possibly special commandoes.
While it has been possible in the past for criminals or militants to hire police uniforms and vehicles, he says, the scale of this operation suggests real police involvement.
It is well known that the Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militia groups, leading to split loyalties and corruption, our correspondent says.
Fewer kidnappings
The missing security guards are all believed to have been working for the GardaWorld security agency - a Canadian-owned firm largely staffed by British former service personnel.
Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias
Their abducted client was thought to be advising the Iraqi finance ministry.
The BBC’s security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says a British crisis team, including police hostage negotiators, members of the secret intelligence service, and regional experts, is being assembled to establish lines of communication with the kidnappers.
About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago.
This is thought to be the first time an abduction has been staged at a government facility.
Correspondents say hopes for the captives’ future depends on who is holding them.
The Sunni al-Qaeda has a record of killing captives, while if it is a Shia group, there may be scope for political negotiation, the BBC’s Paul Wood in Baghdad says.
If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. However, the British government has a declared position of not paying ransoms.
Up to 40 police vehicles, thats a lot of prep for a non police terrorist group. Somethuing don´t smell right here.
From the above article.
Sadr and Iran’s Mullahs still waste oxygen.
So what else is expected?
BBC has had this story for almost three hours. I still find nothing on the wire services and/or the American press.
Plausible deniability — because of involvement by the MSM?
Yup. Every breath he takes is a testament to America’s complete lack of seriousness.
If we’re going to kill the bad guys, to hell with it. Send the good guys home.
Up to 9 Westerners kidnapped in Iraq
~ excerpt ~
Up to nine Westerners are believed to have been kidnapped in Baghdad.
Unconfirmed reports suggest five Britons have been seized, while four German lecturers have also been kidnapped.
The news has prompted the British government's top-level emergency committee to meet to discuss the kidnap. The committee, known as COBRA, will be led by officials from the Foreign Office, which declined to confirm any details.
"Where we suspect British nationals have been abducted it would be normal to meet," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said, adding several government departments would be involved.
The four germen were snatched after gunmen wearing police uniforms took them from a Finance Ministry building.
The men, who were all lecturers, had been advising ministry personnel on organising electronic contracts, according to one witness, who did not want to be identified.
The gunmen entered the lecture room led by a man wearing a police major's uniform. Police said about 40 gunmen sealed off streets around the three-storey computer science building belonging to the ministry before they went inside.
The witness in the Finance Ministry said another lecturer escaped being abducted because he was sitting apart from his colleagues. The kidnapped men, who were employed by a US organisation, had given at least 12 lectures at the ministry over the past year.
Thanks.
Live State Department briefing on Darfur (Negroponte). Probably be questions on Iraq. (C-SPAN)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6700319.stm
Last Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2007, 14:41 GMT 15:41 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Five Britons ‘seized in Baghdad’
Witnesses said police units sealed off the street outside the ministry
Five Britons are reported to have been kidnapped from Iraq’s finance ministry in Baghdad.
They included four bodyguards and a finance expert. Earlier reports said the expert was German.
Witnesses and sources told the BBC that the kidnappers wore police uniforms and arrived in up to 40 police vehicles.
“We are aware of reports that a group of Westerners have been kidnapped. We are urgently looking into them,” the UK foreign office said.
The foreign office is set to hold an emergency meeting on the situation and is assembling a crisis team.
Also on Tuesday, Baghdad was shaken by a bus explosion which killed at least 23 people and injured about 55, and a car bomb which killed at least 17 people, hurt at least 36 and destroyed a Shia mosque.
The US military also announced that two of its soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash on Monday in Diyala province, while another six died in roadside bombings.
At least 110 US troops have been killed so far in May, making it the deadliest month for American forces this year.
Renegade police?
There are conflicting reports about exactly how Tuesday’s abduction took place and how many people are missing.
‘Hired guns’ in Iraq
Witnesses said it was carried out by what appeared to be a police unit.
The street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers, in police camouflage uniforms, walked straight past guards at the finance ministry building on Palestine Street, the witnesses said.
A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation.
The BBC’s Paul Wood in Baghdad says that if such reports are true, it could point to the involvement of a renegade police unit, possibly special commandoes.
While it has been possible in the past for criminals or militants to hire police uniforms and vehicles, he says, the scale of this operation suggests real police involvement.
It is well known that the Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militia groups, leading to split loyalties and corruption, our correspondent says.
Fewer kidnappings
The missing security guards are all believed to have been working for the GardaWorld security agency - a Canadian-owned firm largely staffed by British former service personnel.
GardaWorld is one of the biggest suppliers of private security in Iraq, and is thought to have hundreds of staff in the country.
Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias
The company’s abducted client was thought to be advising the Iraqi finance ministry.
The BBC’s security correspondent, Frank Gardner, says a British crisis team, including police hostage negotiators, members of the secret intelligence service, and regional experts, is being assembled to establish lines of communication with the kidnappers.
About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago.
This is thought to be the first time an abduction has been staged at a government facility.
Correspondents say hopes for the captives’ future depends on who is holding them.
The Sunni al-Qaeda has a record of killing captives, while if it is a Shia group, there may be scope for political negotiation, our correspondent in Baghdad says.
If it is a criminal group, then GardaWorld can expect a ransom demand, he says. The British government itself has a declared position of not paying ransoms.
Sources: 3 kidnapped from Iraqi Finance Ministry building
BAGHDAD (CNN) — Three people were kidnapped on Tuesday from an Iraqi Finance Ministry building on Palestine Street in north-central Baghdad, interior and finance ministry sources said.
There are conflicting reports about the nationalities of the kidnapped. The British Foreign Office is urgently checking into reports that Britons were among those kidnapped.
Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf, Interior Ministry spokesman, said the incident took place on Palestine Street around 11:55 a.m. He said at least 19 cars drove up to the location, stormed the building and fled with abductees. (Posted 8:36 a.m.)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/29/tuesday/index.html
I wonder if this building is within the Green Zone? Anyone know?
You really don't want to make them angry.
No civilized person should go anywhere near those accursed countries, and we should not let any of them into our countries!
According to the map on the BBC site, no, it’s east of the Tirgris. I had the same question.
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