Five U.S. Army soldiers are being investigated for allegedly raping a young
woman, then killing her and three members of her family in Iraq, a U.S. military
official told The Associated Press on Friday.
Iraqi soldiers man a checkpoint on a bridge in
central Baghdad, Iraq Friday, June 30, 2006 just before the Friday vehicle
ban came into effect. The 11am to 3pm vehicle ban on Fridays was
introduced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in an attempt to
prevent car bombings on Iraqis gathering to give traditional Friday muslim
prayers. [AP] |
The soldiers also allegedly burned the body of the woman they are accused of
assaulting in the March incident, the official said on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity of the case.
Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of coalition troops in Baghdad, had
ordered a criminal investigation into the alleged killing of a family of four in
Mahmoudiyah, south of Baghdad, the U.S. command said. It did not elaborate.
The case represents the latest allegations against U.S. soldiers stemming
from the deaths of Iraqis. At least 14 U.S. troops have been convicted.
The United States also is investigating allegations that two dozen unarmed
Iraqi civilians were killed by U.S. Marines in the western town of Haditha on
Nov. 19 in a revenge attack after one of their own died in a roadside bombing.
"The entire investigation will encompass everything that could have happened
that evening. We're not releasing any specifics of an ongoing investigation,"
said military spokesman Maj. Todd Breasseale.
"There is no indication what led soldiers to this home. The investigation
just cracked open. We're just beginning to dig into the details."
However, a U.S. official close to the investigation said at least one of the
soldiers, all assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment, has admitted his role and
has been arrested. Two soldiers from the same regiment were slain this month
when they were kidnapped at a checkpoint near Youssifiyah.
The official said the accused soldiers were from the same platoon as the two
slain soldiers, whose bodies were mutilated. He said the mutilation of the slain
soldiers stirred feelings of guilt and led at least one of them to reveal the
rape-slaying on June 22.
At least four other soldiers have had their weapons taken away and are
confined to Forward Operating Base Mahmoudiyah south of Baghdad.
The official said the killings appear to be unrelated to the kidnappings. He
said those involved were all below the rank of sergeant. Senior officers were
aware of the family's death but believed it was due to sectarian violence,
common in the religiously mixed town, he said.
The killings appeared to have been a "crime of opportunity," the official
said. The soldiers had not been attacked by insurgents but had noticed the woman
on previous patrols.
