IRAQI "SOUVENIR" CAUSE OF FATAL EXPLOSION AT

UNCLAS AMMAN 002616

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FRANKFURT FOR TSA FOR FRANK HARRIS
ATHENS FOR TSAR MONTGOMERY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ASEC PTER JO
SUBJECT: IRAQI "SOUVENIR" CAUSE OF FATAL EXPLOSION AT
JORDANIAN AIRPORT


SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: An explosive device apparently picked up
in Iraq as a souvenir by a Japanese photo-journalist
detonated at Queen Alia International Airport during
examination by a security guard May 1, killing the guard and
injuring five others. The photographer remains incarcerated
by Jordanian officials, but is expected to be released to the
custody of Japanese government officials after further
interrogation. END SUMMARY

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DEADLY SOUVENIR
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2. (SBU) Queen Alia International Airport Director Nasri
Nowar told us that at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May
1, a security guard at the airport noticed a
"suspicious-looking device" during an initial screening of
the luggage of a Japanese photo-journalist en route to Tokyo
via Cairo. Nowar said the guard had moved the luggage to an
"isolated" table for further inspection, and was in the
process of examining the device when it exploded in his
hands, killing him immediately and injuring five others
standing by. The explosion also touched off some panic among
passengers and airport staff who thought the airport was
under attack, according to Nasri, but airport police quickly
restored calm. The terminal was closed for four hours
pending maintenance and investigation.


3. (SBU) Nowar said the photographer, Hiroki Gomi, a
passenger on an Egyptair flight to Cairo, told police that he
picked up the device in Baghdad in mid-April as a "souvenir"
from the war, but had "no idea" it was a type of munition.
Gomi also told police he had given a similar souvenir to a
friend from Amman, which police were dispatched to retrieve
upon Gomi's disclosure. Nowar said that preliminary findings
indicated the devices were bomblets from cluster bombs, but
added that the investigation was ongoing.


4. (SBU) While Gomi could be charged with negligent homicide
under Jordanian law, Nowar said that it was more likely he
would be released to the custody of Japanese government
officials for deportation following further questioning by
Jordanian military and intelligence officials, as Jordan "did
not want to jeopardize the excellent relationship we have
with Japan." A representative from Gomi's employer, the
newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, arrived in Jordan over the
weekend and personally expressed his apologies on behalf of
the newspaper to the victim's coworkers and assured Jordanian
officials that the victims would be compensated.


5. (SBU) Nowar said none of the other injuries appear to be
life-threatening. He said another guard and an Egyptian
passenger remain in the hospital, but may be released
tomorrow. The remaining injured, including a guard and two
airport baggage workers, were treated on the scene and
released.

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COMMENT
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6. (SBU) While clearly rattled by what was an incident
apparently characterized more by stupidity and negligence
than by criminal intent, Jordanian civair authorities are
confident the matter was handled properly by airport security
personnel. Nonetheless, they are eager to hear from
Transportation Security Administration officials, due in
Amman mid-May, their thoughts on the incident, as well as
possible recommendations for additional safeguards.

BERRY