US: Iraqi militants used kid to lob grenade
BAGHDAD: US troops from the 2nd Infantry Division foiled an attempt Thursday to coerce a child into accepting a hand grenade in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, the US command said.
The troops were on patrol when they saw a blue sedan with three military-aged males pull up near their position. The driver left the vehicle and approached a child, who took a grenade from the adult, a US statement said.
The Americans fired a warning shot and the child dropped the grenade and ran away. The adult returned fire with a pistol, jumped into his vehicle and tried to escape.
US troops disabled the vehicle, killing one and wounding two, the statement said.
The grenade never exploded and the child disappeared, the statement added.
“The incident demonstrates the ruthless disregard that the insurgency has for the citizens of Iraq,” said Marine Maj. Phil Bragg, a spokesman for the 1st Marine Division.
Last week, Iraqi officials accused insurgents of using a retarded man to carry out one of the eight suicide bombings in Baghdad during the January 30 elections. --