"It's a human failure," Baghdad Gov. Salah Abdul Razaq said. "It can
only be negligence or collusion."
The Interior Ministry has ordered a crackdown on ill-disciplined
officers and commanders. Officials said the mega-attacks by Al Qaida in
September and October resulted in the suspension of dozens of officers.
On Oct. 29, the Baghdad Operations Command reported a purge of police in
wake of the Al Qaida attack in which at least 155 people were killed and 740
injured. The command said 61 police officers and soldiers have been detained
and interrogated on charges of negligence in connection with the Al
Qaida bombings in Baghdad on Oct. 25.
Officials said 50 police and security guards were arrested along with 11
officers. They said the security personnel, charged with allowing a truck
filled with two tons of explosives to reach the Justice Ministry, underwent
questioning by a special panel.
"The commission of inquiry into the double attack on Sunday ordered the
arrest of 11 officers of various ranks and 50 members of the security forces
responsible for the protection of Salhiya," Iraqi security spokesman Maj.
Gen. Qassim Atta said.
The detainees were said to have included the commanders of at least four
police districts in the Baghdad area. Officials said most of those detained
would probably be dismissed from the Iraqi security forces.
Officials said the Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry have been
ordered to increase vetting of officers and other personnel. They said Al
Qaida was suspected of having bribed officers to enable suicide car bombs to
reach their targets throughout Iraq.
