Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE2020
2004-08-13 06:09:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

LETTER WARNING OF A PLOT TO ATTACK JEWS AND

Tags:  ASEC NL PTER 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002020 

SIPDIS

NOFORN

TERREP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014
TAGS: ASEC NL PTER
SUBJECT: LETTER WARNING OF A PLOT TO ATTACK JEWS AND
AMERICANS IN THE NETHERLANDS ALLEGED IN ANONYMOUS LETTER

Classified By: RSO THE HAGUE JOHN HUCKE, REASONS 1.5 (C) AND (D)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 002020

SIPDIS

NOFORN

TERREP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014
TAGS: ASEC NL PTER
SUBJECT: LETTER WARNING OF A PLOT TO ATTACK JEWS AND
AMERICANS IN THE NETHERLANDS ALLEGED IN ANONYMOUS LETTER

Classified By: RSO THE HAGUE JOHN HUCKE, REASONS 1.5 (C) AND (D)


1. (SBU) RSO The Hague was contacted by the Security Officer
for the Israeli Embassy who advised a letter reporting a
threat had come to him. He offered that the writer was
informing on someone else. The letter was forwarded by fax.


2. (SBU) the letter is in Dutch and was translated by the Sr.
FSNI. The letter identifies a young Moroccan individual
(Bilall Essarsi, Djakkartaterras 9, 4th floor, postal code
1094 DA in Amsterdam, mobile (phone) number 06 26628115) in
Amsterdam as someone who sought funding in order to buy
weapons, hand grenades and time bombs to make an attack in
the Netherlands, an attack on an important target where Jews
and Americans work. The FSNI characterized the Dutch as that
of a not well educated native speaker, certainly not a Dutch
high school graduate. The FSNI felt the use of Dutch as
consistent with the claimed identity of the writer as a
Moroccan living in the Netherlands.


3. (SBU) TEXT

To Amsterdam Police
Section: Intelligence Service
Or to AIVD
Very Confidential Information

I am a representative of ALLA and spiritual caretaker of
Moroccans in The Netherlands. I am working for one of the
Holy Mosques in the Netherlands.

At the moment I am operating as a secret spiritual caretaker
in the Dutch Society of Moroccans. I am very well up to date
about who wants to work under the terrorists in the
Netherlands.

Eight or nine days ago I was approached by a young Moroccan
who said that he needed money in the amount of 6,000 Euros.
I asked him what he was about to do with the money. He said
that currently he is preparing underground activities in The
Netherlands. Namely he needed the money to buy weapons, hand
grenades and time-bombs. He along with young Moroccans wants
to commit an attack in The Netherlands. I asked him whether
he is a student or is working somewhere. He said that he is
a student. Also he stated that he has lot of contacts with
Moroccan youngsters who think like him and also wanted to
become a member of Al-Qaeda. Furthermore I asked him, where
and what place he has selected for the attack.


He did not want to say that. He said, that he has a very
important target in mind where Jews and Americans work. He
did not want to say anything else other than just the money.
I told him that he would get an amount from me in September

2004.

He has left behind his name, address and telephone number.
His name is Bilall Essarsi, living at Djakkartaterras 9, 4th
floor, postal code 1094 DA in Amsterdam...Mobile number 06

26628115.

In the name of ALLA, I am a honest Muslim and Moroccan. That
is way I report this person to the police and the
Intelligence service of The Netherlands.

My advice will be that this person cannot freely move around
in The Netherlands.

ALLA hoe AKBAR

To Israeli Ambassador
Attention of Mosaad
Buitenhof 47
2513 AH The Hague

Valuable information

4, (SBU) After translating the letter the FSNI was directed
to call the Regional Intelligence Division RID) and inform
them that we had received a copy of a letter containing
possible threat information. He was directed not tell RID
where we got the letter but did report that the letter had
reportedly been delivered to the Amsterdam Police and the
Dutch National Internal Security Service known by the Dutch
acronym AIVD. The RID acknowledged there was an official
police investigation into the letter and the allegation and
assured us we would be advised when the matter was resolved.
This is the standard police response, once an investigation
begins the Police and privacy laws restrict the dissemination
of law enforcement information.


5. (SBU) During a follow up call to the Israeli Security
Officer RSO learned that the letter came to the embassy today
in the Dutch mail and the lack of a return address caused
them to handle the letter as suspicious. Once it was examined
and determined to not be a physical threat it was open and
translated by a local employee. The envelope bore an
Amsterdam postmark of 11 Aug. 04. The police were informed of
the letter and a copy was faxed to the Regional Intelligence
Division of The Hague Police. The Israeli Security Officer
had opened the letter by the end, preserving the seal for
possible DNA collection and the inside of the flap for
fingerprint examination. The Police responded later in the
afternoon and collected the original and the envelope. At
that time the Police Officer advised the Israeli Security
Officer that the person named in the letter was known to the
Amsterdam Police as a "petty criminal". According to the same
Police Officer the Police in Amsterdam were not aware of the
letter when he queried them.

6. (SBU) The creditability of the information and the motives
of the anonymous source are unknown. The Israeli Security
Officer was mildly surprised there was no mention of Israelis
or the Israeli Embassy as a target even though a copy of the
letter was sent to the Israeli Embassy. He wondered if this
was an attempt to "get someone in trouble by falsely accusing
them of plotting terror". While that is a possible motive the
existence a good citizen or a person planning to seek a
reward later can not be totally discounted. The writer did
say he told the suspect he'd be given money in September,
postponing involvement and suggesting a plot, if there truly
is one, is not yet operational. The purported target is where
"Jews and Americans work". The Israeli Security Officer
stated he would have shared any similar letter regardless,
but when he considered Jews and Americans as one target in
the same location, only two locations came to mind, the
American Embassy and the American School of The Hague which
is attended by children from both the American and Israeli
Embassies.


7. (S/NF) A copy of the letter in Dutch along with the RSO
Office translation were provided to ORCA for traces and
reporting in their channels. RSO advised the TERREP report
would be in State channels. ORCA advised they would contact
the liaison service, AIVD, to insure that they in fact had
been informed of the letter and to seek information.
Information exchange in "intelligence channels" available to
ORCA is much less restricted then information exchange to the
RSO in Police channels. Unauthorized disclosure of "Police
Information" can subject a Police Officer to personal legal
sanction, civil and criminal.


RUSSEL