id: 23607
date: 12/4/2004 1:27
refid: 04OTTAWA3259
origin: Embassy Ottawa
classification: SECRET
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
040127Z Dec 04
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S E C R E T OTTAWA 003259
SIPDIS
TERREP
STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/NEA, DSERCC, DS/ITA
STATE ALSO FOR S/CT, POSTS FOR RSO AND PSO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2014
TAGS: ASEC PTER RCMP
SUBJECT: ANONYMOUS THREAT LETTER RECEIVED BY THE ROYAL
CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE - MONTREAL METRO SYSTEM AND US
EMBASSY
Classified By: RSO THOMAS F. GREY JR., REASON 1.4

1. (SBU) ON DECEMBER 3, 2004, THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED
POLICE TELEPHONICALLY CONTACTED RSO, LEGAT AND POLITICAL
LIAISON REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MEETING TO DISCUSS A CURRENT
INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY BY RCMP NATIONAL SECURITY
INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION AT OTTAWA AND MONTREAL. INCLUDED IN
THE MEETING IN ADDITION TO RSO, LEGAT AND POL/L WERE MEMBER'S
OF THE RCMP CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE AND PROTECTIVE
SERVICES DIVISION.

2. (S) RCMP ADVISED THAT ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004, AN ANONYMOUS
LETTER, DRAFTED IN FRENCH WAS RECEIVED AT RCMP HEADQUARTERS
IN MONTREAL. THE DRAFTER OF THE LETTER INDICATED HE/SHE HAD
OVERHEARD XXXXXXXXXXXX, DOB: MAY 6, 1976 DETAILING A
POSSIBLE PLOT TO BOMB THE MONTREAL METRO SYSTEM ON DECEMBER
15 AND THE US EMBASSY ON JANUARY 10, ACCORDING TO THE
DRAFTER, XXXXXXXXXXXX IS AFFILIATED WITH USAMA BIN LADEN. DRAFTER
FURTHER PROVIDED A CELLULAR TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR XXXXXXXXXXXX.
NO OTHER DETAILS WERE PROVIDED IN THE SHORT LETTER ADDRESSED
TO RCMP HEADQUARTERS, MONTREAL.

3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO THE RCMP WHO WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND
LOCATE XXXXXXXXXXXX, A TUNISIAN IMMIGRANT WHO ARRIVED IN CANADA
IN 2000 AND HAS SINCE APPLIED FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP. RCMP
INDICATED HIS PENDING IMMIGRATION FILE WOULD BE DENIED BUT
WOULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILS. XXXXXXXXXXXX, A PART-TIME SECURITY
OFFICER AND CAR WASH ATTENDANT IS CURRENTLY UNDER 24/7
SURVEILLANCE BY RCMP PERSONNEL. RCMP HAVE REQUESTED NAME
TRACES FROM US AUTHORITIES TO INCLUDE DS, FBI AND POLITICAL
LIAISON. ONCE OBTAINED, RCMP PLAN TO ARREST XXXXXXXXXXXX FOR
POTENTIAL POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION. XXXXXXXXXXXX HAS NO KNOWN
CRIMINAL HISTORY OR IS HE KNOWN TO CANADIAN AUTHORITIES FOR
ANY REASON OTHER THAN HIS PENDING IMMIGRATION PETITION.
HOWEVER, RCMP WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE DETAILS AS TO WHY
XXXXXXXXXXXX WOULD BE DENIED CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP CLAIMING
PRIVACY LAW LIMITATIONS.

4. (SBU) RSO OTTAWA TELEPHONICALLY CONTACTED RSO TUNIS
REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING ANY KNOWN/POSSIBLE
CRIMINAL HISTORY AVAILABLE THROUGH TUNISIAN AUTHORITIES.
XXXXXXXXXXXX DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WATCH-LISTED OR IDENTIFIED IN
FBI DATABASES. RSO OTTAWA ATTEMPTED TO SEARCH INK SYSTEM IN
AN EFFORT TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE EXISTENCE OF AN APPLICATION
BY XXXXXXXXXXXX TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES. SIMILAR
DOCUMENTATION IS MAINTAINED BY CANADIAN AUTHORITIES.

5. (SBU) RSO REQUESTED ADDITIONAL PROTECTIVE COVERAGE FOR ALL
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FACILITIES IN HALIFAX, MONTREAL,
TORONTO, WINNIPEG, CALGARY, VANCOUVER, QUEBEC CITY AND
OTTAWA. RCMP ASSETS WERE VISIBLE AT 1915 HOURS ON 12/3/2004
AT OTTAWA. COM AND DCM ARE CURRENTLY OUT OF COUNTRY OR IN A
TRAVEL STATUS. DCM BRIEFED TELEPHONICALLY. RCMP PHYSIOLOGICAL
PROFILERS REVIEWED CONTENTS OF THE SUBJECT LETTER AND BELIEVE
THE AUTHOR TO BE A MALE AND SOMEWHAT EDUCATED. RCMP STATED
SUCH LETTERS ARE RECEIVED FREQUENTLY AND ALTHOUGH SERIOUS
DOUBT THIS PARTICULAR THREAT TO BE CREDIBLE. RSO DID NOTE
THAT FEW LETTERS ARE RECEIVED SPECIFICALLY MENTIONING THE
BOMBING OF THE US EMBASSY. RSO INQUIRED AS TO WHY THE RCMP
WAITED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE PROVIDING SUCH INFORMATION. RCMP
WERE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO RESPOND BUT THE INDICATION SEEMED
TO BE THEY WERE PROCEEDING APPROPRIATELY. RSO, LEGAT AND
POL/L WERE ALLOWED TO REVIEW THE LETTER DURING THE COURSE OF
THE MEETING BUT COPIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. RSO WILL CONTINUE
TO REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTATION RELEVANT TO RCMP INVESTIGATION.
IN THE EVENT XXXXXXXXXXXX IS ARRESTED AT MONTREAL, RSO OTTAWA
WILL REQUEST RSO MONTREAL TAKE PART IN SUBJECT INTERVIEW.

6. (SBU) RSO OTTAWA WILL CONTINUE TO SOLICIT INFORMATION FROM
RCMP AND ADVISE APPROPRIATELY. POC AT OTTAWA IS RSO TOM GREY.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
DICKSON
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