SANAA EAC MEETING 02/13/2005

S E C R E T SANAA 000315 SIPDIS NOFORN DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2015 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER YM EAC COUNTER TERRORISM SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 02/13/2005 REF: (S/NF) RAMIS CT:PRELIMINARY REPORT. DOI: EARLY FEBRUARY 2005 Classified By: RSO Tim Laas, for reasons 1.4 (b) (c) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) Begin Summary - The Ambassador convened an EAC meeting on February 13, 2005, to discuss a recent report about two individuals who are in custody after a belt laden with explosives, for placement around a persons waist, was turned in at a police station on Tuesday, 8 February 2005. EAC members recommended no changes in current security policy pending further review of the incident. EAC members recommended that the Ambassador should conduct a Town Hall meeting as soon as possible to discuss community security concerns. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting included: DCM, FPD, CCE-Y, RMAS, POL/ECON, DAO, FPD, OMC and RSO. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) RMAS informed the EAC that ROYG contacts confirmed that a Yemen citizen identified SEPTEL, wanted to prevent a terrorist attack, and therefore turned in an explosive laden belt as well as person(s) associated with possible attack plan. ¶3. (S/NF) RSO discussed two sources with the EAC. The first source, MOI Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Sunidar confirmed for RSO, that a man was arrested with a belt laden with TNT and a timer attached to his arm. The man, according to MOI, turned himself in and provided information leading to the arrest of one of his brothers, and the discovery of a second explosive-laden belt and timer at his residence. ¶4. (SBU) The RSO also provided the EAC with a corporate security source report from a known source whose reliablity has not been established. According to this report, a man possessing an explosive laden belt turned himself in at a Police Station at about 1700 hours on February 8, 2005, with 13 packs of explosives, 2 grams each, strapped to his person. Subject was not dis-armed until about 2100 hours; 3 to 4 arrests resulted from the leads developed from the Subject who was extremely nervous and shaking according to this report. At least two houses were reportedly raided and weapons and explosives found. As noted in para. 2, Arrest has been verified by RMAS who has been promised more information by PSO after initial interrogation of detainee is completed. ¶5. (S/NF) EAC discussed increased scrutiny by the RSO and post management regarding the sponsoring of events that cluster Americans in soft-target sites. EAC noted the management offices efforts to have a quicker turn-around time for newly arrived officers to replace American Embassy Diplomatic plates with local blue plates. EAC members chose not to put any establishments off-limits such as the &Russian Club8 a western bar and dance club, at this time. Krajeski