Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN6937
2002-11-27 14:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
AQABA PIZZA HUT FIRE AN ACCIDENT
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS AMMAN 006937
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ASEC PTER JO
SUBJECT: AQABA PIZZA HUT FIRE AN ACCIDENT
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
UNCLAS AMMAN 006937
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ASEC PTER JO
SUBJECT: AQABA PIZZA HUT FIRE AN ACCIDENT
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Econoff spoke to Arab Food Catering Company owner
Khaled Dhaleh November 27 to check on press reports about a
"suspicious" fire in a Pizza Hut in Aqaba. Dhaleh, whose
company owns the Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Popeyes
restaurants in Jordan, said the November 25th fire was caused
by a short circuit in a refrigerator. (A number of press
reports claimed the cause of the fire was arson rooted in
anti-Americanism, and portrayed the incident as one of a
series of attacks on American fast food restaurants
throughout the region.)
2. (SBU) Dhaleh told us the fire began at about noon, when a
short circuit in a basement refrigerator ignited a fire with
packaged material within. The fire smoldered slowly,
damaging the refrigerator and part of the building, but was
quickly brought under control and caused no injuries. He
said that damages were in the range of about $15,000, and
that the restaurant would be reopened December 2.
3. (SBU) Dhaleh said he heard initial news reports on the
radio at midnight the same day that reported arson as the
cause. He said that it seemed to be a case of "wishful
thinking" on the part of the press, "some of whom wanted a
story and some of whom wanted to celebrate". Dhaleh added
that he had experienced no recent bouts of anti-Americanism
in any of his restaurants, and that business was "okay".
4. (SBU) This report corroborates the Ambassador's
conversation with the son of the owner of the hotel in which
the Pizza Hut is located. The son, a friend, also said it
was an electrical fire.
GNEHM
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ASEC PTER JO
SUBJECT: AQABA PIZZA HUT FIRE AN ACCIDENT
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY
1. (SBU) Econoff spoke to Arab Food Catering Company owner
Khaled Dhaleh November 27 to check on press reports about a
"suspicious" fire in a Pizza Hut in Aqaba. Dhaleh, whose
company owns the Pizza Hut, Burger King, and Popeyes
restaurants in Jordan, said the November 25th fire was caused
by a short circuit in a refrigerator. (A number of press
reports claimed the cause of the fire was arson rooted in
anti-Americanism, and portrayed the incident as one of a
series of attacks on American fast food restaurants
throughout the region.)
2. (SBU) Dhaleh told us the fire began at about noon, when a
short circuit in a basement refrigerator ignited a fire with
packaged material within. The fire smoldered slowly,
damaging the refrigerator and part of the building, but was
quickly brought under control and caused no injuries. He
said that damages were in the range of about $15,000, and
that the restaurant would be reopened December 2.
3. (SBU) Dhaleh said he heard initial news reports on the
radio at midnight the same day that reported arson as the
cause. He said that it seemed to be a case of "wishful
thinking" on the part of the press, "some of whom wanted a
story and some of whom wanted to celebrate". Dhaleh added
that he had experienced no recent bouts of anti-Americanism
in any of his restaurants, and that business was "okay".
4. (SBU) This report corroborates the Ambassador's
conversation with the son of the owner of the hotel in which
the Pizza Hut is located. The son, a friend, also said it
was an electrical fire.
GNEHM