THE HAGUE EAC CONVENED - JULY 15, 2004

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001778

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DS/IP/EUR, DS/ITA/EUR, DSCC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014
TAGS: ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: THE HAGUE EAC CONVENED - JULY 15, 2004


Classified By: LISELI MUNDIE ACTING RSO THE HAGUE


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Post held an EAC meeting July 15 in response to the
Dutch government decision elevating the general threat level in the
Netherlands. RSO and ORCA briefed on the threat situation and the EAC
decided not to change the current security posture and that there was
no
specific, credible or non-counterable threat information warranting it.
However, the Deputy Chief of Mission reviewed security procedures and
urged all staff to exercise vigilance and caution. Post has
disseminated
an updated warden and OSAC notice.


2. (U) DETAILS: The police and ministries informed the RSO Office that
the
Dutch had raised the general threat level as a precautionary measure as
the European Union Presidency was being handed over to the Dutch and
due
to the Al Qaida-issued deadline for European countries to remove their
military personnel from Iraq by July 15, 2004. The police and relevant
ministries stated that there was not any specific, credible or
non-counterable threats to U.S. facilities or citizens.


3. (U) The Diplomatic Protective Police, who provide protection for
both
the U.S. Ambassador and the U.S. Consul General, have taken the unusual
step of placing undercover surveillance teams in the vicinity of the
U.S.
Embassy at their own discretion.


4. (S/NF) ORCA has learned from the Dutch Intelligence and Security
Service (AIVD) of several recent reports of incidents and anomalies.
The
AIVD reported that an individual associated with a terrorist cell from
Antwerp had been observed by the AIVD in The Hague casing areas
including
the AIVD building and the U.S. and British Embassies. The AIVD
reported
another incident that involved two Middle Eastern men that were found
filming the tunnels under Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The AIVD also
reported finding blasting caps; a list of 40 places where fertilizer
could
be purchased; and floorplans of the AIVD, Dutch Parliament and the
Dutch
Foreign Ministry buildings in the residence of an individual detained
by
the Dutch Police for involvement in an armed robbery in Rotterdam. The
AIVD reported two other incidents involving casings of other locations
in
the Netherlands, to include the U.S. Embassy in The Hague by members of
two seperate terrorist cells located in the Middle East and Europe.


5. (S/NF) The DCM spoke to the Director of Crises Management and
Security
Matters, Arjen Jonge Vos, regarding the elevated threat level. Jonge
Vos
re-iterated that there was no specific, threat toward U.S. citizens or
official U.S. facilities and that the threat level had been elevated
due
to theAIVD reports. Jonge Vos also stated that the Security Triangle
(Comprised of Ministries and Police Departments) had reviewed the
security
measures at several locations to include the U.S. Embassy and the U.S.
Consulate General. Jonge Vos stated that some locations that did not
have
much security postures in effect had recently received police booths
and
police presence at their locations but stated that the U.S. Embassy and
Consulate General had security measures in effect that were deemed as
being above security standards, thus not requiring increased security
measures or extra police presence at either one.


6. (U) Post activated the warden system to advise American citizens in
the
Netherlands of the general elevation of the threat level in the
Netherlands and the Acting RSO office has notified Overseas Security
Advisory Council (OSAC) members as well. The Acting RSO has briefed the
duty officer concerning the elevated threat level and the posted
messages.
The acting RSO in in the process of disseminating an Embassy-wide
security
instruction to remind Embassy personal to vary their routes, times and
remain aware of their surrounding and maintain vigilance.

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