Camera Shop Raid Leads to Mortar Cache, Suspects

Soldiers from the Iraqi army, in conjunction with Coalition Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division conducted a raid Feb. 4 on a photo shop in northeast Mosul with the intent of eliminating a source of improvised explosive device manufacturing as well as locating a specific mortar cache that information sources said was there.

Dubbed "Operation Camera Shy," the cordon and search involved the camera shop, several houses in the area, as well as a large field near the store. While searching the field, several marking sticks were found, as well as an initiator approximately five meters from the northeast corner of the field. Upon digging, a cache of two mortar tubes, seven 120mm rounds, two pipe bombs, a bag of fuses, two ammunition cans, and other assorted IED-making material was found.

Five males were taken into custody, with four of them testing positive for explosive residue on their person. All of the suspects were remanded into custody.

All of the explosives were taken to Al-Kindi and reduced by the 2nd Iraqi Army Division soldiers who were spearheading the mission.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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