TFUS3: PETROL BOMB AT KANO BRITISH COUNCIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002617

SIPDIS


NOFORN


DEPT FOR DS/OP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/PSP/FPD
LAGOS FOR RSO


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/11
TAGS: ASEC PTER NI
SUBJECT: TFUS3: PETROL BOMB AT KANO BRITISH COUNCIL

REF: A. ABUJA 2508 B. ABUJA 2478


Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter: Reasons 1.5 (b) and
(d).



1. (U) On 15 October 2001, Embassy Abuja received information
from a reliable source that the British Council in Kano had
been the target of a petrol bomb during the early morning
hours.



2. (C/NF) RSO met British High Commission Security Officer,
Keith Rowland, who offered the following details:


-- Despite a GON imposed dusk to dawn curfew, approximately a
few minutes after midnight an unspecified number of petrol
bombs were thrown over the rear perimeter wall of the British
Council in Kano;


-- The petrol bombs landed in an open area of the Council's
grounds and were quickly extinguished by local guard force
personnel;


-- There were no injuries or damage to property;


-- The British Council has increased its security posture in
Kano, and local police are investigating the attack;


-- At this time, there have been no claims of responsibility
or arrests by the GON.



3. (C/NF) This is the first and only incident in Nigeria
targeting an allied forces Mission of which we are aware. We
have no reason to view it as other than an isolated incident.
Our British colleagues do not view this incident as a
precursor to more serious threats. Embassy Abuja had
previously identified Kano as a potential hotspot (Ref B).
The USG does not have any direct-hire personnel located in
Kano, and the attack does not trigger further action based on
established trip wires (Ref A). American citizens in Kano
report that they are alert and practicing situational
awareness while going about their business. Kano is located
in northern Nigeria and is a five hour drive from Abuja and
thirteen hours from Lagos. The nearest Operation Focus Relief
(OFR) forces are in Birnin-Kebbi, about six hours away.



4. (C/NF) RSO and Post management agree that the situation
bears close monitoring. An EAC meeting will soon be convened
to discuss the attack's implications on Abuja, if any. The
security posture at all USG installations in Abuja remains at
the highest levels.
Jeter