Four suspects arrested in Karbala attack on soldiers

Four suspects in the weekend attack in Karbala, Iraq — during which five U.S. troops were killed by gunmen disguised in American uniforms — have been arrested, officials said Wednesday.

According to a U.S. military spokesman, U.S. and Iraqi troops arrested the men in a house near where the suspected attackers abandoned several vehicles after the attack.

Five U.S. soldiers were killed and three wounded.

The suspects were caught by Iraqi troops, a special Iraqi police unit from Hillah and U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, officials said.

“The suspects are being held for further questioning,” a news release read.

One of the American soldiers killed in the attack was identified by the Pentagon late Tuesday as Capt. Brian S. Freeman.

Freeman, 31, was assigned to the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Whitehall, Ohio. His hometown was listed as Temecula, Calif.

According to family members, he leaves behind a wife and two young children. Freeman deployed to Iraq in May 2006, was home for Christmas and returned to Iraq in January.

According to military sources, the four other soldiers killed in the attack were from Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Though their families have been notified, officials said, the names have not yet been officially released.