THREATENING LETTER RECEIVED BY EMBASSY OFFICER

UNCLAS ANKARA 004939 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER, DS/ITA, DS/IP/EUR, S/CT AFOSI INCIRLIK PLS PASS ADANA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2006 TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER TU SUBJECT: THREATENING LETTER RECEIVED BY EMBASSY OFFICER REF: SABO EMAIL DATED 22 AUGUST 2005 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: ON 22 August 2005 Acting DCM Timothy Betts received a letter, written in Arabic, claiming that Mujahideen here in Turkey will strike down our personnel and families. The letter was discussed at Country Team today, 23 August. Turkish National Police are investigating. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On Monday, 22 August 2005 in the local mail A/DCM Tim Betts received a letter postmarked 16 August in Cankaya, Ankara (the area where the Embassy is located). The letter was addressed to: Mr. Timothy Betts Embassy of USA Ataturk Bulvari. 110 Kavaklidere Ankara The address was written in English except for "Bulvari." Inside the envelope was one sheet which carried writing in Arabic. An informal translation prepared inside the Embassy follows: ¶3. (SBU) In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful God most high said, "They killed all the unbelievers just as they (the unbelievers) killed all of you, and know that God is with the pious." Verily, the price of the tyranny and oppression that is being practiced against Islam and the Muslims in Iraq and many parts of the world will soon be pushed higher, here in the land of the Caliphate, Turkey( Indeed, the fighters (mujahideen) who are tied to this land are observing your movements( and they will strike your necks (cut off your heads) soon( successive blows without end( We will target all of your personnel and their families and all of your abodes without exception ( The one who warns is forgiven(. ¶4. (SBU) Comment by ECON Counselor who did the translation: It's very good Arabic, written by a native speaker or someone close to a native speaker; some of the constructions are a bit complicated. The language is "classical," that is using older, religious vocabulary, which suggests that the writer may have had a religious education of some kind. ¶5. (U) At Country Team on 23 August RSO summarized this incident, reminded everyone to practice good personal security measures, and distributed the Personal Security Self-Assessment Checklist. RSO will follow-up with the suggestion made at CT that the recent cable distributed to COMs addressing personal security and the checklist be sent out electronically to the entire mission. ¶6. (U) The envelope and letter has been sent to the Intelligence Division of the Turkish National Police for investigation. ¶7. (U) A full EAC has tentatively been scheduled for Friday August 26 and the overall security posture of post will be reviewed. ¶8. (U) Point of contact is RSO JANET SABO AT 90-312-455-5555 ext. 2348. MCELDOWNEY