Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | Iraqi policemen, Mensur Noori Sherqy and Sami Naji Anezy, stand in front of a truck...... read more read more
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HUSAYBAH, Iraq — Two Iraqi policemen were hailed as hometown heroes and recently rewarded for their quick action at stopping a suicide bomber from driving an explosive-laden truck into the Al Qa'im Iraqi Police District Headquarters, which sits near three schools and several houses, the morning of Nov. 22, 2009.
Col. Jamal, the district chief of police, rewarded Sami Naji Anezy and Mensur Noori Sherqy, both of nearby Al Qa'im, with 10 days extra leave and a bonus for shooting dead the driver of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and preventing the 700 pounds of ammonium nitrate explosives from detonating.
Additionally, local sheik Jamal Ahmed Dely made financial gifts to each, said Lt. Col. Sabah, executive officer of the DHQ.
"I am very proud of my policemen, and so are the residents of Husaybah," said Sabah, a former Special Forces officer who served with the Iraqi army for nearly 20 years. "They saved a lot of human life, as well as many buildings."
Approximately 1,200 students were attending an elementary school and two high schools adjacent to the DHQ when the policemen stopped the VBIED, said Sabah. Additionally, there is a farmer's cooperative and several residences nearby that would likely have been destroyed or damaged by the blast.
It is believed the attempted attack was perpetrated by a disparate group of insurgents aimed to delegitimize the capabilities of Iraqi security force professionals providing security for their people.
"The other officers and local residents think we are heroes, but it is part of our duty and responsibility as policemen," said Sami, who fired the first shot.
"The VBIED was speeding when he turned into the DHQ," he recalled. "I yelled for the driver to stop but he didn't. As soon as I released my safety, the suicide driver hit the gate. I was eight meters from the truck when I started shooting."
"I was in the tower when Sami was yelling at the suicide bomber," added Mensur. "He did not stop, so Sami fired warning shots above the VBIED. Then I started firing the machine gun."
Mensur and several policemen by the tower kept firing until the truck crashed into a concrete barrier, he said.
After Lt. Col. Sabah called cease fire and ordered policemen to secure the area, Iraqi army explosive ordnance disposal was called in to diffuse the VBIED.
At least six civilians were visiting the DHQ on business during the attack, said Sami. None of them were injured by the defensive fire.
"Our policemen showed a high level of skill," said Sabah. "We should have stopped the VBIED outside, but we stopped it before it got to its target, and we killed the driver."
"The police at the checkpoints made mistakes because they did not find the explosives, but it is difficult for them to check all cargo since they lack the modern screening equipment deployed at some check points. They depend on their eyes, their hands and their instincts to determine if a vehicle is a VBIED," said Sabah.
"The attempted bombing will motivate us to do better in the future," said Sami.
Sami thanked the Americans for passing intelligence of an impending attack to Col. Jamal, who ordered the increased force protection. "We were expecting an attack," he said.
U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class William Dufault, a platoon sergeant with 747th Military Police Company attached to 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), said that his unit has developed a strong intelligence-sharing partnership with the IP resulting in improved force protection for Iraqi security forces in the Al Qaim District.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2009 13:54 |
| Story ID: | 42785 |
| Location: | HUSAYBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 265 |
| Downloads: | 205 |
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