Gunmen in Police Uniforms Steal $550,000

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6916730,00.html

Wednesday September 12, 2007 10:01 PM


By LAUREN FRAYER

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) - Gunmen wearing police commando uniforms waylaid an armored truck Wednesday on a major Baghdad street, overpowered the guards and made off with about a half-million dollars in Iraqi currency, police said.

The robbers set up a fake checkpoint with two police vehicles along the Mohammed al-Qassim highway in eastern Baghdad, the police said, flagged down the armored truck and offered to escort it to its destination in downtown Baghdad.

Along the way, the estimated 10 gunmen forced the driver to pull over near a university campus, police said. There they handcuffed and gagged the truck's occupants - five guards, one accountant and a driver - and stole the money.

The victims then drew attention of passing motorists, who alerted police.

One officer quoted the accountant as saying the cash was being carried from a factory in the Zafaraniyah neighborhood to a private bank.

Two policemen from separate departments provided the information on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to speak to the media.