SAUDI ARABIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 003968 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL SA SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT REF: STATE 198912 ¶1. FOLLOWING RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL: A) POST SHOULD HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TAKEN BY HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL COALITION, PARTICULARLY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST AL-QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN. RESPONSE: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GOVERNMENT (SAG) HAS SUPPORTED THE GLOBAL COALITION AND HAS RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO VARIOUS REQUESTS FOR CONCRETE ACTION AND ASSISTANCE. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROVISION OF OVERFLIGHT CLEARANCE FOR AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, THE CUTTING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE TALIBAN REGIME IN AFGHANISTAN, AND COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE SEPTEMBER 11 INCIDENTS. IN ADDITION, SAUDI ARABIA HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE THAT TERRORISTS ARE DENIED ACCESS TO THE SAUDI BANKING SYSTEM AND HAS ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO BANKS IN SAUDI ARABIA TO LOOK FOR AND FREEZE ACCOUNTS LISTED BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS COMMITTEE. B) PLEASE PROVIDE VIVID EXAMPLES OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS THAT WERE THWARTED, AND TERRORIST CELLS THAT WERE BROKEN UP DURING 2001 WHICH ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE POUCH ANY PARTICULARLY EVOCATIVE OR DRAMATIC PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WOULD ILLUSTRATE THESE CASE STUDIES. PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PUBLICATION IN WHICH THE PHOTO ORIGINALLY APPEARED AND THE DATE OF APPEARANCE. RESPONSE: POST HAS NO RELEASABLE MATERIAL THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THIS QUERY. C) DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING 2001, INCLUDING ANY HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM. RESPONSE: THERE WAS ONLY ONE SIGNIFICANT ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN 2001: THE HIJACKING OF A TURKISH PLANE EN ROUTE TO RUSSIA IN MARCH, 2001. THE ONLY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS IN THIS CASE TO DATE HAVE BEEN THE DENIAL OF RUSSIA'S AND TURKEY'S EXTRADITION REQUESTS. (SEE RIYADH 0721) D) DID THE HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECUTION DURING THE YEAR? RESPONSE: NO. E) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. RESPONSE: NO LEGAL OR POLITICAL IMPEDIMENTS EXIST TO THE SAG'S PROSECUTION OF PEOPLE ALLEGED TO HAVE COMMITTED TERRORIST ACTS WITHIN SAUDI ARABIA. HOWEVER, THE SAG HAS FEW EXTRADITION TREATIES OUTSIDE OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL (OIC) AND THE ARAB LEAGUE. THE LEAGUE'S ANTI-TERRORIST AGREEMENT, WHICH SAUDI ARABIA HAS RATIFIED, CONTAINS EXTRADITION ARTICLES. F) DISCUSS HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN PROSECUTION. THESE WOULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCIES FOLLOWING A TERRORIST INCIDENT (IN OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY) AND EFFORTS BY HOST GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE TERRORIST INCIDENTS OR TO ASSIST WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM INVESTIGATION. RESPONSE: THE KING, CROWN PRINCE, MINISTER OF DEFENSE, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, MINISTER OF INFORMATION, SENIOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND OFFICIAL NEWS MEDIA PUBLICLY AND CONSISTENTLY CONDEMN TERRORISM IN UNEQUIVOCAL TERMS, INCLUDING BY REFUTING IDEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR TERRORISM. IN OCTOBER 2001 THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS ACCEDING TO THE UN CONVENTION ON BLOCKING FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS. THE SAG CONTINUES ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMB ATTACK OF JUNE 1996 THAT KILLED 19 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL. THE SAG IS STILL HOLDING A NUMBER OF SAUDI CITIZENS IN DETENTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOMBING, INCLUDING SAUDI CITIZEN HANI AL- SAYEGH. NO PROSECUTION OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC LEGAL ACTION BEGAN IN 2001 REGARDING THE BOMBING. IN OCTOBER, 2000, TWO SAUDI MEN FORCED A SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM JEDDAH TO LONDON TO LAND IN IRAQ. IRAQI AUTHORITIES DETAINED THE HIJACKERS AND RETURNED THE PASSENGERS AND AIRCRAFT TO JEDDAH. IRAQ DENIED AN EXTRADITION REQUEST BY THE SAG. NO ONE WAS HARMED IN THE HIJACKING. SAUDI AUTHORITIES HAVE COMPLETED THE INVESTIGATION INTO A STRING OF BOMBINGS IN RIYADH AND THE EASTERN PROVINCE AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE CRIMINAL RATHER THAN POLITICAL IN MOTIVATION. G) DESCRIBE MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN IN 2001 BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT. INCLUDE STEPS TAKEN IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. RESPONSE: THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED ITS FULL COOPERATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION AGAINST TERRORISM. THIS COOPERATION INCLUDES MILITARY, LEGAL AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. H) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS, OR TERRORIST GROUPS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF TERRORISTS OR THEIR ACTIVITIES; DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION; MISUSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND OTHER DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES TO SUPPORT TERRORISM; PROVISION OF SANCTUARY AND/OR THE PRESENCE OF OFFICES OF TERRORIST GROUPS; PROVISION OF TRAINING OR TRAINING SITES; PROVISION OF WEAPONS; AND POSITIONS TAKEN ON TERRORISM ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. RESPONSE: THE SAG DOES NOT POLITICALLY OR FINANCIALLY SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS OR ACTIVITIES. ITS REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OBTAIN GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZATION TO SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL CAUSES. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THESE REGULATIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED. THERE CONTINUE TO BE ALLEGATIONS THAT SOME INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES SOLICIT AND COLLECT FUNDS FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS IN SAUDI ARABIA. I) HAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A TERRORISM ISSUE? (THE SEVEN GOVERNMENTS DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ARE CUBA, IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, SYRIA AND SUDAN.) RESPONSE: THE SAG MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS SUPPORTING ANY OF THE SEVEN COUNTRIES ON THE USG'S TERRORISM LIST REGARDING A TERRORIST ISSUE. J) DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 2001, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC. WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHANGE? RESPONSE: THE ATTITUDE OF THE SAG TOWARD TERRORISM DID NOT CHANGE DURING 2001. K) DESCRIBE U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, REQUESTS TO THE HOST GOVERNMENT FOR SPECIFIC COOPERATION AND EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE HOST COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORIST GROUPS DIRECTLY OR IN SUPPORT OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF THE HOST COUNTRY'S COOPERATION WITH THOSE EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT HAS SATISFIED THE SPECIFIC REQUESTS. RESPONSE: FOLLOWING A 1995 BOMBING THAT KILLED U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL ADVISING THE SAUDI ARABIAN NATIONAL GUARD (OPM/SANG),A USG INTERAGENCY COUNTERTERRORISM TEAM VISITED SAUDI ARABIA TO BEGIN UNPRECEDENTED, COORDINATED, INTERAGENCY CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE USG AND SAG ON COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY ISSUES. THIS COOPERATION, WHICH ENGENDERED HIGH-LEVEL SAG INTEREST AND THE PARTICIPATION OF MULTIPLE SAG MINISTRIES, HAS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 2001. THE USG AND SAG CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY ISSUES AFFECTING AMERICAN AND SAUDI INTERESTS IN THE REGION. CONSULTATIONS AND TRAINING FOR SAUDI COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES ALSO OCCURRED. IN THE WAKE OF THE SEPTEMBER ATTACKS, U.S. AND SAUDI OFFICIALS HAVE MET IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE TRANS- NATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORIST GROUPS DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. THE FBI COORDINATES ITS INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND MAINTAINS A PERMANENTLY STAFFED LEGAL ATTACHE OFFICE IN THE U.S. EMBASSY. IN OCTOBER, 2001, AN APPARENT SUICIDE BOMB EXPLODED IN AL-KHOBAR, KILLING ONE AMERICAN AND WOUNDING ANOTHER. THE SAG INVESTIGATION HAS SINCE REVEALED THAT THE BOMBER WAS A PALESTINIAN, ACTING ALONE, FOR UNVERIFIED MOTIVES RELATING TO THE PALESTINIAN INTIFADA. L) IN ADDITION TO THIS GENERAL INFORMATION, IF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT COOPERATION FROM THE HOST GOVERNMENT DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS OR INTERESTS, PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON: ¶I. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 2001 COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN APPREHENDING, CONVICTING, AND PUNISHING THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACT; AND II. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 2001 COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN PREVENTING FURTHER ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORY. RESPONSE: (I) THE SAG HAS COOPERATED FULLY IN INVESTIGATING PARTICIPATION OF SAUDI CITIZENS IN THE SEPTEMBER ATTACKS AND CONTINUES TO COORDINATE WITH USG OFFICIALS IN EFFORTS TO HALT THE FLOW OF FUNDS TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (II) THE SAG CONTINUES TO DEVOTE CONSIDERABLE HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT USG PERSONNEL AND INTERESTS FOLLOWING THE OPM/SANG, KHOBAR TOWERS, EAST AFRICA BOMBINGS, AND THREATS TO THE U.S. EMBASSY, CONSULATES AND OTHER U.S. INTERESTS IN 2001. IT MADE AVAILABLE TO COALITION FORCES THE PRINCE SULTAN AIRBASE AT AL KHARJ, WHERE MOST U.S. SERVICEMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA ARE NOW LOCATED, AND A RESIDENTIAL COMPOUND, KNOWN AS ESKAN VILLAGE, SOUTH OF RIYADH FOR MILITARY AND CIVILIAN DOD PERSONNEL. THE SAG SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FACILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE SECURITY. THE SAG ALSO WORKED WITH AMERICAN SECURITY PERSONNEL IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ENHANCE PROTECTIVE MEASURES AT ALL OTHER USG FACILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA, INCLUDING THE U.S. EMBASSY IN RIYADH AND THE CONSULATES IN JEDDAH AND DHAHRAN. USG AND SAG OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY TO REVIEW THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS IN SAUDI ARABIA. M) IF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 2001 COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN PREVENTING ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORY. RESPONSE: THE SAG HAS PROVIDED TO THE USG INFORMATION ON THREATS DIRECTED AT U.S. INTERESTS IN SAUDI ARABIA AND CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH USG AGENCIES TO PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS IN THE KINGDOM. REPORTED THREATS HAVE REGULARLY LED TO THE RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF EXTRA SECURITY PERSONNEL AND THE PLACEMENT OF PERMANENT PHYSICAL BARRIERS, CHECKPOINTS, AND OTHER VISIBLE DETERRENTS. SCOBEY