EMBASSY COLOMBO ACTIONS TO DATE REGARDING THREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000622 SIPDIS TERREP DS FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SA, AND DS/ICI/PII E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2014 TAGS: ASEC CE PTER SUBJECT: EMBASSY COLOMBO ACTIONS TO DATE REGARDING THREAT TO U.S. AMBASSADOR REF: A. A) RSO/LEGATT-NEW DELHI TELCON DATED 04/09/04 ¶B. B) DS/ICI/PII EMAIL DATED 04/09/04 ¶C. C) COLOMBO 0620 ¶1. (SBU) At approximately 2330 hours on the evening of 9 April, RSO Colombo received a telephone call from Legatt New Delhi regarding an alleged Tamil Tiger threat to "try kill the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka." This threat had apparently been sent via email by an unknown person in Jaffna, Sri Lanka to the FBI tipline website in WashDC. Soon thereafter, RSO received a second call from the DS/PII representative to FBI/SIOC with the same information. At approximately 2400 hours, RSO arrived at Embassy Colombo to read the text of the threat information, which stated the following: Quote - The brutal muderer dirty minded person Karuna, former LTTE chief commander try to kill the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka - End Quote. ¶2. (SBU) RSO Analysis: This threat information coincides with the outbreak of hostilities between rival LTTE factions currently ongoing in eastern Sri Lanka (Ref C). Karuna is the rebel LTTE leader who split from the LTTE in early March. The fact that the emailed threat originated in the northern town of Jaffna (an LTTE stronghold) suggests a political motivation for bringing the U.S. Ambassador into the LTTE conflict. There is no history of LTTE targeting Americans or American interests, and there is no current intelligence indicating the U.S. Ambassador is at risk, therefore, the RSO deems the threat information not credible. That said, however, post has taken prudent steps to enhance security for the Ambassador in the near term, and will continue to monitor security developments in Sri Lanka with this information in mind. ¶3. (C) RSO Protective Actions to Date: Since approximately 0100 hours April 10, the unarmed Local Guard coverage has been expanded to three guards within the Ambassador's residential compound. An unarmed two-man mobile patrol unit has been placed in static coverage at the front of the Ambassador's compound, and a second mobile unit is patrolling the immediate area of the residence. A fixed Surveillance Detection position has been established outside the Ambassador's residence, and an armed two-man police vehicle has been positioned outside the residence. The Ambassador was already scheduled to host the CODEL Dreier delegation starting at 1330 hours April 10 - April 12, so enhanced security had previously been planned throughout the holiday weekend to include an armed RSO or ARSO, three unarmed Embassy bodyguards, Surveillance Detection personnel, and static police at the delegation's hotel. With the new threat information, an armed Special Task Force police vehicle has been added to the delegation's official schedule. All of post's FAVs and LAVs will be utilized for the official movements. Police cooperation has been excellent. ¶4. (SBU) RSO Investigative Actions to Date: The emailed threat information contained several investigative leads including a (highly suspect) name and phone number. (So far, the phone number provided maintains a constant busy signal.) RSO will pursue all leads with local authorities to the extent that the local holiday weekend allows. LUNSTEAD