Iraq Shuts Down Coordinated Bomb Attacks

Despite widespread rumors of a coup, or Baathist revolt, the security blanket thrown over Baghdad this morning was a series of raids that disrupted a coordinated set of attacks that were about to go off today.

A wide-ranging plot to bomb government ministries and other public places, to be followed by a wave of political assassinations, was uncovered by Iraqi officials, who responded Tuesday by bringing much of Baghdad to a virtual standstill while security forces conducted raids that netted large quantities of explosives, officials said.
At least 4 suicide car bombers — and as many as 10 — were apparently on their way to government buildings on Tuesday morning when they were stopped by the police and arrested, the authorities said.
During raids on houses and warehouses in Baghdad that lasted throughout the day, the authorities arrested 25 people and recovered more than 440 pounds each of TNT and C-4, about 66 gallons of ammonium nitrate solution and 60 mortar shells, according to a statement from Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, a spokesman for Baghdad Operations Command, which is responsible for security in Baghdad, the capital.

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By: Brant