Iraqi Forces Rescue 40 Kidnapped Students

Bus was grabbed at fake Mosul checkpoint

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 6, 2008 8:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Iraqi police and soldiers have freed at least 40 students kidnapped by suspected members of Sunni Islamist al-Qaeda, Reuters reports. The young men had been seized by gunmen near Mosul in northern Iraq who set up a fake checkpoint and stopped two busloads of students returning to classes from a weekend break. One bus managed to escape but students were wounded by gunfire.

An Iraqi spokesman confirmed that security forces had rescued the students but did not release details of the operation. Sunni insurgents have regrouped recently in northern Iraq after being pushed out of Baghdad and Anbar province. Mosul is the group's last urban stronghold in Iraq, according to US commanders. American and Iraqi troops have been fighting a major offensive against insurgents in the city.

Iraqi security forces freed a group of at least 40 students seized by gunmen near Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Suspected insurgents sit and awaiting interrogation at the Iraqi police counterterrorism unit in Mosul. US and Iraqi forces have been waging a major offensive in the city. (AP Photo/Lauren Frayer)

Iraqi security forces have freed 40 students kidnapped by suspected al-Qaeda militants. (AP Photo)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • kidnapping • Mosul • Iraq Army • Iraq police • al-Qaeda

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Mosul Truck Bomb Kills 5 US Troops

Two Iraqi cops killed, 18 others wounded in deadliest attack of year

Bombings Kill 31 in Baghdad, Mosul

Suicide attacks rock police academy, US-Iraqi patrol

Iraqi Army Nabs Key Militant Leader

Soldiers in Mosul arrest chief of Al-Qaeda in Iraq

1,000 Iraqis Deserted Basra Battle

Officers and men fled or balked as government battled militias

Kidnapped Priest Found Dead in Iraq

Captors tell church Chaldean archbishop was ill before death

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