Army official arrested for masterminding attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD - Police Saturday arrested a member of the country’s military in southern Iraq, on suspicion of being behind car bombings that killed and injured dozens of people last month.

Among the incidents attributed to the official were two blasts that killed 34 people and injured more than 80 Aug 3 in a market in Kut, some 170 km south-east of the capital Baghdad.

The suspect was arrested in a raid based on intelligence information, Aziz al-Amra, the leader of rapid response forces in the Kut area, told DPA.

Al-Amra did not elaborate on the official’s position with the armed forces.

Also Saturday, three policemen were injured when an explosive device targeted their patrol in southern Baghdad, officials in the capital said.

Iraq has seen an increasing wave of violence over the past few months, with insurgents targeting both civilians and security forces.

At least 526 people were killed in August, up slightly from July’s death toll of 515, according to the Monitor of Constitutional Freedom and Bill of Rights group. This summer has been the deadliest period in Iraq since 2008.