Iraqis hold suspect in shrine bombing

BAGHDAD, June 28 (UPI) -- A Tunisian identified as a key al-Qaida member is in custody in Iraq for the bombing of the highly revered al-Askari Shiite shrine.

National security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie identified the suspect as Abu Qudama, one of seven suspected wanted in the February attack in Samara which blew out the dome of the shrine, reports the BBC.

The al-Askari bombing triggered massive sectarian attacks throughout the country.

Rubaie said Abu Qudama was arrested several days ago and that he had confessed to his involvement in the bombing, the report said. The security head said the attack was masterminded by an Iraqi, Haitham Al-Badri, who remains at large.

All the seven wanted men are al-Qaida members, Rubaie said. They include another Iraqi and four Saudi nationals. It was not clear who besides Abu Qudama has been arrested.