BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 4, 2004 - The Iraqi Police Service’s Major Crimes Unit hit a major terrorist cell Aug. 2 as part of an ongoing operation that began at the end of July when a Baghdad shakedown netted a large haul of weapons, explosives in an anti-Iraqi force safe-house in the city, according to Office of Security Transition officials.

Officers from the elite Baghdad unit engaged individuals associated with the Ansar Al Islam terrorist group on a cordon and search mission in a Baghdad neighborhood acting on identification intelligence gained on the earlier mission.

According to a high-ranking officer in the Iraqi police service (name withheld for security reasons), an ensuing fight

yielded the capture of three individuals, a fourth was killed in the operation.

One officer from the unit sustained slight injuries.

The operation consisted of a covert cordon in anticipation of the targeted individuals’ later capture in the raid of the home. Also captured in the raid was a computer that will be examined for intelligence value.

“The officers performed very well,” the police official said.

For operational security reasons, additional details were withheld.