Iraqi security forces arrested Jordanian militant Abu Mus’ab Al Zarqawi last year, but mistakenly released him, Iraq’s deputy Interior Minister said on Friday, according to CNN.
According to Hussein Kamal, Zarqawi was captured in the central Iraqi town of Fallujah, but was later freed by Iraqi police because they didn’t know who he was.
Kamal insisted Zarqawi would eventually be caught. "He is human, he does not have the power of God," he said.
"He got away once, he will not get away the next time. He will be tried for the crimes he committed against the Iraqi people."
Kamal’s announcement could not be confirmed, but an unidentified American official told the Associated Press that the U.S. intelligence believed it was valid.
The United States blames most of IRAQ's deadly attacks on Zarqawi, whom it says heads the al-Qaeda branch in Iraq.
There have been conflicting reports of missed opportunities to arrest Zarqawi since the 2003 U.S.-led INVASION of Iraq. Some analysts even say that the man doesn’t exist.
Earlier this year, the U.S. army claimed to have injured Zarqawi in an offensive in Ramadi. And last month, Iraqi officials denied reports that Zarqawi was among those killed in an assault in the northern city of Mosul.
Zarqawi is the most wanted suspect in Iraq and has a U.S. bounty of $25 million on his head.
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