23 arrested, mortars seized in Karbala

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: Twenty-three persons wanted on criminal charges were captured while security forces seized seven mortar shells in security operations in Karbala on Sunday, according to the province’s police chief. “Security forces in Karbala captured 23 wanted persons. Some of the arrested are from other provinces. Cooperation with other provinces helped speed up their arrest,” Maj. General Ahmed Ali Zweini told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The arrested men confessed during initial investigations of their charges and would be referred to court soon,” he added. Meanwhile, Maj. Ala’a al-Ghanimi, the Karbala Police Department’s Information Director, told IraqiNews.com that security forces, acting upon intelligence tip-offs, seized seven mortar shells, scraps of war that were dumped near a road adjacent to checkpoints in the southern part of the city. “Bomb squad personnel removed those shells and scanned the area lest there should be other weapons posing threats to local residents,” he added. The holy Shiite city of Karbala lies 108 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. AmR (S) 1