CENTCOM NEWS RELEASE

September 29, 2003
Release Number: 03-09-25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4TH INFANTRY DIVISION SOLDIERS CAPTURE ABDUCTION SUSPECTS

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division captured three individuals who are suspected in the abduction of two US servicemen in June.

A fourth suspect was killed in a gun battle that ensued when the red Capri sedan the four were riding in attempted to run a Coalition traffic control point near Ad Dujayl.

The vehicle is believed to be the same car that had fled the scene of a detonated improvised explosive device aimed at coalition forces two hours earlier.

During the subsequent search of the vehicle, two M16 assault rifles were found which were subsequently identified as the weapons assigned to Sgt. 1st Class Gladimir Philippe, 37, of Linden, N.J., and Pfc. Kevin Ott, 27, of Columbus, Ohio, members of the 3/18th FA, Fort Sill, Okla.

The two soldiers are believed to have been abducted while guarding a cache of captured explosives near Halabsa, a village located in an area where Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen loyalists once were headquartered. The soldiers’ remains were located on June 28 in Taji, Iraq.

An AK-47 automatic assault weapon, an Iraqi military uniform, and other equipment were also found in the vehicle. The suspects are currently in custody of the 4th ID.