POSSIBLE AL-QAIDA AVIATION THREAT TO THE U.S.

S E C R E T TEGUCIGALPA 002162

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, DS, INR, EB/TRA, WHA, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2013
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL EAIR HO
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE AL-QAIDA AVIATION THREAT TO THE U.S.
(S/ES 200322654)

REF: STATE 258046


1. (S) Post demarched key GOH officials in several ministries
September 10 with reftel information concerning a possible
Al-Qaida aviation threat to the U.S.:

-- PolOff delivered reftel talking points to MFA Director
General for Foreign Affairs Mario Fortin who said he would
immediately forward the information to the Ministry of the
Presidency. Fortin emphasized that Honduras would do
whatever it could to assist the U.S. in the war against
terrorism.

-- EconOff delivered reftel talking points to Cesar Vasquez,
Director of Civil Aviation. Vasquez emphasized that Honduran
aviation authorities are already operating at a level of
heightened security awareness, and asked if there were
specific actions that the USG was requesting. EconOff
reiterated that officials should review their current
security posture, specifically with regard to flights which
might be used in the kind of attacks described. The issue
will be discussed further with visiting TSA Representative
Victor Guardia at an airport security meeting already planned
for September 11th. (Note: In addition to direct flights to
Houston and Miami (daily) and New Orleans (four times a
week),the following commercial aircraft depart Honduras: an
Airbus 320 daily to El Salvador, a Boeing 737 twice a week to
Nicaragua, and a Boeing 737 daily to Costa Rica. A chartered
flight also flies once or twice a month from the island of
Roatan to Milan, Italy. There are no direct commercial
flights from Honduras to Canada or Europe. End Note.)

-- Law Enforcement Program Coordinator delivered reftel
talking points to Minister of Public Security Oscar Alvarez.
Alvarez said he would order increased checkpoints in border
regions, placing extra emphasis on travelers' origin,
destinations, and travel documents. He also plans to meet
with airport officials to place extra security measures at
international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. He
will place U.S.-trained Frontier Police at airport boarding
gates to do random questioning and searches, and will
encourage airlines to advise the Frontier Police when a
suspicious person or persons with suspicious travel plans
purchase tickets or check-in.


2. (S) The Ambassador is seeking a meeting with President
Ricardo Maduro to discuss this and other issues. President
Maduro returned September 10 from a short trip to the U.S.


3. (S) Minister Alvarez also said that he has stepped up
police protection for the U.S. and British Embassies from now
through the weekend, due to the 9/11 anniversary.
PALMER