MAOISTS DISRUPT BUSY INTERSECTION WITH FOUR

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000778 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/OP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, AND SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC PGOV NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS DISRUPT BUSY INTERSECTION WITH FOUR IMPROVISED DEVICES ¶1. At approximately 1508 (local) area residents in the Gyaneshwor section of Kathmandu reported seeing several individuals leave improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in one of the city's busiest intersections. Police detailed to the American Center, located about 400 meters from this junction, responded to the scene and reported the pipe bombs to their operations center. The intersection links three of the city's major roads and the timing coincided with the early start of the rush hour for many Nepalese. Police sources report the Maoists' goal appears to have been to disrupt traffic in the area. Security forces blocked traffic until an army bomb squad defused the devices. The entire incident lasted just under 2 hours. No injuries resulted and no arrests have been made. MALINOWSKI