Coalition Forces liberated two Iraqi males with signs of torture from an al-Qaeda prison near Arab Jabar in the early morning hours of January 20.Coalition forces discovered the building while conducting an operation in support of Operation Phantom Phoenix. As they building, soldiers could hear voices inside. After breaking open deadbolt locks, the two prisoners were found inside.
The men said they had been hired by Coalition Forces as electricians to install power lines. Inside the room, soldiers found braided wire cords, cables and a strap hooked to the ceiling used to hold the prisoners while they were beaten.
The men explained they were kidnapped by al Qaeda gunmen while driving to visit family in Baquba January 9. They were bound and blindfolded and taken to the prison chamber. The men said they were routinely beaten and questioned during their first three days of captivity. One was beaten over the head with a pistol. Both men were bound and struck repeatedly with cables. The men had bruises on their backs and legs.
The torture chamber was found by Soldiers of Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash. More info with pictures here.
Previous posts on Al Qaeda torture chambers here and here and here.
