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Militia suspected on Iraq kidnap Houses raided after Iraq kidnap
(about 1 hour later)
A Shia militia group is thought to be behind the kidnapping of five Britons in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. US and Iraqi troops have raided houses and buildings in Baghdad's Sadr City, close to where five Britons were kidnapped on Tuesday.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that the Mehdi Army, rather than al-Qaeda, could be responsible. The suburb is a stronghold for the Shia militia, the Mehdi Army.
The Anglican vicar of Baghdad, Canon Andrew White, said the kidnapping could be linked to the recent killing of a radical Shia cleric. Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari said he believed the group, not al-Qaeda, may be behind the abductions.
The Britons were seized at a government building near Baghdad's Sadr City suburb, a Mehdi Army stronghold. 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.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the UK government was doing all it could to secure the men's release.
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''Challenge to government'
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 Tuesday's 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 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.
"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].""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]."
DistressDistress
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, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said support was being offered to the kidnap victims' next of kin at what was "clearly a very distressing time for all concerned". 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 GardnerThe 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."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.""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.
The British government convened an emergency meeting of its Cobra crisis management committee to discuss the issue on Tuesday afternoon.
'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.
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".
"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 computer expert was working for Bearingpoint, a US management consultancy which has worked on development projects in Iraq since 2003.
As yet, no group has taken responsibility for the abduction.
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: "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.
Iraqi police are heavily infiltrated by militiasIraqi police are heavily infiltrated by 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.""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."
BBC correspondent Jim Muir said similar abductions of large numbers of Iraqis had been blamed on Shia militias, but it was not being ruled out that Tuesday's raid could have been staged by Sunni insurgents.
He said senior Iraqi officials said the kidnappers told guards at the Ministry of Finance building that they were from the Integrity Commission - the Iraqi government's internal watchdog.
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.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.A police source told the BBC that dozens of police vehicles were used in the operation.
Intense negotiationsIntense 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.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.Intense negotiations were going on with Iraqi officials, and US representatives in Iraq, he said.
He added: "It's thought that it would be quite hard for them to abduct these people and take them too far from the area where they were seized without being detected.
"So there will be back-channel contacts, SIS - the Secret Intelligence Service - will be involved in this, speaking to informers, trying to find out if anybody has seen anything suspicious, and trying to find out who they are dealing with here."
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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