Three al-Qaeda gunmen were arrested in a security operation southwest of Kirkuk, the Iraqi police in Kirkuk said Thursday (May 3rd).

Explosives and ammunition were also discovered during the arrest.

Lt. Col. Salam al-Jaf, the Kirkuk police spokesperson, told Al-Shorfa that a police force supported by army air forces raided a building in the sub-district of Riyadh, Hawija district after receiving intelligence indicating that al-Qaeda-affiliated gunmen were inside.

The operation led to the arrest of three gunmen affiliated to a cell specialising in car bombs, sticky bombs and explosives vests, he said.