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Houses raided after Iraq kidnap Houses raided after Iraq kidnap
(about 2 hours later)
US and Iraqi troops have raided houses and buildings in Baghdad's Sadr City, close to where five Britons were kidnapped on Tuesday.US and Iraqi troops have raided houses and buildings in Baghdad's Sadr City, close to where five Britons were kidnapped on Tuesday.
The suburb is a stronghold for the Shia militia, the Mehdi Army.The suburb is a stronghold for the Shia militia, the Mehdi Army.
Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said he believed the group, not al-Qaeda, may be behind the abductions.Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said he believed the group, not al-Qaeda, may be behind the abductions.
The Anglican vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White, said the kidnapping could be linked to the recent killing of a radical Shia cleric by UK troops.The Anglican vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White, said the kidnapping could be linked to the recent killing of a radical Shia cleric by UK troops.
BBC correspondent Jim Muir said these raids in a Shia area were the "clearest physical indication so far" that suspicions were falling on the Shia militia.BBC correspondent Jim Muir said these raids in a Shia area were the "clearest physical indication so far" that suspicions were falling on the Shia militia.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the UK government was doing all it could to secure the men's release. The US military said a number of militants had been arrested during the raids but would not confirm any link with the missing Britons.
Distressing time
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the UK government was working closely with Iraqi authorities and doing all it could to secure the men's release.
She said their families were being offered support at this "distressing time".
The five men - a computer expert and four bodyguards - were taken from the finance ministry building in Baghdad.The five men - a computer expert and four bodyguards - were taken from the finance ministry building in Baghdad.
The kidnappers wore police uniforms and staged the capture without firing a shot, senior Iraqi officials said.The kidnappers wore police uniforms and staged the capture without firing a shot, senior Iraqi officials said.
'Challenge to government' The worrying thing is this is obviously not a case for ransom demand Canon Andrew White
Witnesses said Palestine Street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers walked past ministry guards.
A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation.
Mr Zebari said the kidnappings represented a "very serious challenge... to the government itself".Mr Zebari said the kidnappings represented a "very serious challenge... to the government itself".
The kidnappers probably had connections with local police in the area, he told the BBC's Today programme.The kidnappers probably had connections with local police in the area, he told the BBC's Today programme.
'Hired guns' in Iraq Profile: Canon Andrew White'Hired guns' in Iraq Profile: Canon Andrew White
"The number of people who were involved in the operation, to seal all the buildings, to set roadblocks, to get into the building with such confidence, [they] must have some connection.""The number of people who were involved in the operation, to seal all the buildings, to set roadblocks, to get into the building with such confidence, [they] must have some connection."
Canon Andrew White said there was "very likely a connection" between the kidnappings and the death of Abu Qadir, also known as Wissam Waili, a leader of the Mehdi Army militia, who was killed in Basra on 25 May.Canon Andrew White said there was "very likely a connection" between the kidnappings and the death of Abu Qadir, also known as Wissam Waili, a leader of the Mehdi Army militia, who was killed in Basra on 25 May.
He told the BBC: "The worrying thing is this is obviously not a case for ransom demand; economic hostage-taking is fairly easy to deal with. He said: "The worrying thing is this is obviously not a case for ransom demand; economic hostage-taking is fairly easy to deal with."
"The fact is that just last week, one [leader] of the most militant wing of the Mehdi Army was killed by the British troops, and we now see that there is very likely a connection between these two [events]."
Distress
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking during a trip to Libya, said: "We will do everything we possibly can to help."UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking during a trip to Libya, said: "We will do everything we possibly can to help."
In a statement, Mrs Beckett said support was being offered to the kidnap victims' next of kin at what was "clearly a very distressing time for all concerned".
The Iraqi government itself has got a few questions to answer about this BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner
"It is not sensible at this stage to speculate on what might have happened," the statement said.
"We are working closely with the Iraqi authorities to establish the facts and doing all we can to secure their swift and safe release."
British embassy officials in Iraq are following up the case and the Iraqi government has set up a special operations room.British embassy officials in Iraq are following up the case and the Iraqi government has set up a special operations room.
Cobra, the UK government's emergency committee, is expected to meet for the second time later on Wednesday.
'Heavily infiltrated''Heavily infiltrated'
The four kidnapped security guards were working for Canadian-owned security firm GardaWorld.The four kidnapped security guards were working for Canadian-owned security firm GardaWorld.
The company is one of the biggest suppliers of private security in Iraq, and is mainly staffed by Britons.The company is one of the biggest suppliers of private security in Iraq, and is mainly staffed by Britons.
Private contractors are known to be unpopular with Iraqis.Private contractors are known to be unpopular with Iraqis.
Anas Al-Tikriti, an Iraq expert involved in the negotiations to secure the release of Briton Norman Kember, said mercenaries, private contractors and private firms were considered to be in Iraq "filling their boots".Anas Al-Tikriti, an Iraq expert involved in the negotiations to secure the release of Briton Norman Kember, said mercenaries, private contractors and private firms were considered to be in Iraq "filling their boots".
Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias
"As much as the Iraqis despise and loathe the occupiers, they loathe and despise those mercenaries a hundred times more," he said."As much as the Iraqis despise and loathe the occupiers, they loathe and despise those mercenaries a hundred times more," he said.
The computer expert was working for Bearingpoint, a US management consultancy which has worked on development projects in Iraq since 2003. The kidnapped computer expert was working for BearingPoint, a US management consultancy which has worked on development projects in Iraq since 2003.
This is thought to be the first time Westerners have been abducted from a government facility.This is thought to be the first time Westerners have been abducted from a government facility.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said: "Because these men were very unusually seized from a government ministry in broad daylight by people dressed as special police commandoes, in an incredibly brazen raid, the Iraqi government itself has got a few questions to answer about this. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Iraqi government now had a few questions to answer after such an "incredibly brazen raid" in broad daylight.
Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militias He said there were suspicions of low or middle-level connivance in the police, known to be heavily infiltrated by Shia militias.
"I think the suspicion is that there was some connivance, possibly low or middle-level, within the police. The Iraqi police is known to be heavily infiltrated by Shia militias." A team of experienced police hostage negotiators had already been assembled, and extra staff had been flown to the British Embassy in Baghdad, he added.
Witnesses said that the street was sealed off at both ends and the kidnappers, in police camouflage uniforms, walked past guards at the finance ministry building on Palestine Street.
A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation.
Intense negotiations
Frank Gardner said a team of experienced police hostage negotiators had already been assembled, and that extra staff had been flown to the British Embassy in Baghdad following the kidnappings.
Intense negotiations were going on with Iraqi officials, and US representatives in Iraq, he said.
About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago.About 200 foreigners of many different nationalities have been kidnapped in Iraq over the past four years, though the number has fallen dramatically since a few years ago.
Do have experience of working in security in Iraq, or other dangerous countries? Send us your stories.
Do have experience of working in security in Iraq, or other dangerous countries? Send us your stories.
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