"Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms " Still Kidnapping Iraqis by the Dozens [View All]

I imagine the sight of any Iraqi in uniform is pretty frightening these days....




A woman grieves after her brother, among others, was kidnapped by gunmen at a Baghdad branch of Red Crescent December 17, 2006. Gunmen in police uniforms kidnapped dozens of people at Red Crescent's office in central Karrada on Sunday, the same day as British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in the capital to meet Iraq's embattled leaders. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ)


Baghdad kidnapping sows terror as Blair backs Iraq PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/wl_uk_afp/iraq

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The latest in a series of mass kidnappings spread terror in Baghdad as Prime Minister Tony Blair made a suprise visit to support his embattled Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki.

Up to 30 men were hauled off at gunpoint Sunday from a branch of the Red Crescent medical aid agency in a smart downtown area by a gang of 50 gunmen sporting police uniforms, the second mass abduction in Baghdad in three days.

The hostage-takers, jumping out of around 10 pick-up trucks, raided the Red Cresent building in Karada in broad daylight, snatching between 20 and 30 men but leaving women behind, a security source said.

<snip>

Meanwhile, a short distance away another gang -- again in the uniforms of the Shiite-dominated security forces -- shot dead one Sunni local councillor and kidnapped three more from their car, a security official said.




http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061217/bagdad_crescent_061217/20061217?hub=TopStories

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms staged a mass kidnapping on Sunday at the office of the Iraqi Red Crescent in downtown Baghdad, police said.

An official of the Iraqi aid group said the assailants abducted 20 to 30 employees and visitors, but left women behind. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

<snip>

On Thursday, gunmen in military uniforms kidnapped people from a commercial area in central Baghdad, police said. The attackers drove up in about 10 sport utility vehicles and began rounding up shop owners and bystanders. Police said 50 to 70 people were abducted, but at least two dozen were later released.

Last month, gunmen in Interior Ministry commando uniforms abducted scores of men from a Higher Education Ministry office building. The Education Ministry is predominantly Sunni Arab. About half of the victims were released.