RAMADI, Iraq, July 29 (UPI) -- Three children of the Iraqi governor of Al Anbar Province were kidnapped Wednesday from their Ramadi home in a bloodless assualt by an unidentified group of insurgents.
About two-dozen newly minted armed Iraqi police guarding the house gave in to the attackers without firing a shot, according to U.S. officials, who suspect an inside job.
It would not be the first time in Ramadi. Several months ago, when local officials had sent American forces to another location, the Ramadi police station was attacked and all the police disarmed.
Details are sketchy and evolving, but according to U.S. reports, between 15 and 80 heavily armed attackers approached the house in downtown Ramadi Wednesday. They lined the 24 police guarding the building against the wall and disarmed them at gunpoint.
The attackers took the governor's three male children but let his daughter go. They also stole approximately $38,000 and jewelry.
It is not yet clear whether the kidnappers want ransom or want to exchange the children for Gov. Abel Alkareem Burgess Alzaldin.
One thing is clear: The police upon whom security will ultimately rest in Ramadi failed in every way to do their jobs. They did not note the type of vehicles or their license plates and failed to notify U.S. forces or the Iraqi National Guard to back them up. In the 24 hours since the attack, they have failed to do any detective work at all, according to a U.S. report.
Government officials and security forces are regularly targeted by insurgents across Iraq, with children and family members kidnapped or killed on a regular basis.
