Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03SANAA1377
2003-06-16 12:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:  

RECENT REPORTS OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES UNSUBSTANTIATED

Tags:  PTER PREL ASEC YM COUNTER TERRORISM 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001377 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2013
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: RECENT REPORTS OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES UNSUBSTANTIATED

REF: RSO/DS E-MAILS

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reason 1.5 (b,
d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 001377

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2013
TAGS: PTER PREL ASEC YM COUNTER TERRORISM
SUBJECT: RECENT REPORTS OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES UNSUBSTANTIATED

REF: RSO/DS E-MAILS

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Alan G. Misenheimer for Reason 1.5 (b,
d)


1. (C) AP reported on 6/13 that Yemeni police defused a
time bomb outside the Hadda Hotel late on Thursday, June 12.
The hotel is located about 150 yards from a residential
compound housing many foreigners, including Embassy staff.
Foreign Minister Qirbi, the Ministry of Interior (MOI),and
the Political Security Organization (PSO) have all assured
the Embassy that this report is untrue.


2. (C) The 6/13 AP article by Ahmed Al-Haj reported that
"security guards found the bomb placed against the outside
wall of the four-star Hadda Hotel shortly before midnight
Thursday...." Al-Haj said "police have made no arrests in
the incident, which came a day after a bomb exploded about a
mile from the hotel." This story has since been picked up by
the Yemen Times, a bi-weekly english-language publication, as
well as both regional and international press.


3. (C) While investigating the AP report, TDY RSO was
informed by Yemen Hunt Oil Security Manager Ralph Gonzales
that according to his (unnamed) sources, a hand grenade, not
an improvised explosive device (IED),was found at/near the
Hadda Hotel.


4. (C) RSO met with the manager of Hadda Hotel on June 15,

2003. The manager does not consider the person who reported
finding the IED credible. In addition, on 6/16 TDY RSO was
informed by the DATT that both DAO and Pol/Mil sources agree
the AP report is a hoax.


5. (C) Embassy officials have engaged ROYG at numerous
levels -- from the Foreign Minister to MOI to PSO -- and have
been unable to confirm either Thursday night's recovery of an
IED, or the previous day's explosion alluded to in Al-Haj's
article; or the grenade incident reported by Hunt Oil.

MISENHEIMER

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