TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS - USG SITUATION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000443 SIPDIS NOFORN SENSITIVE PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/ES-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS - USG SITUATION REPORT (SITREP) #8, 02/14/2006 REF: ROME 0429 Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/14/2006. ¶2. (SBU) The interagency Olympic Security Coordination (OSC) Office can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following numbers: USG Joint Operations Center (JOC): 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax); USG Threat Integration Center (TIC): 39-011-55-99-790/791 (tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). ¶3. (SBU) Attached is a key for USG acronyms that are used in this cable: the inter-agency Olympic Security Coordination Office (OSC); the USG inter-agency Olympic Security Operations Center (OSOC),including the 24/7 Joint Operations Center (JOC) and Threat Integration Center (TIC); the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); the National Information Center for the Winter Olympics (CINO),which is a Government of Italy (GOI) hosted multinational center; the Turin Olympics Organizing Committee (TOROC); the International Olympics Committee (IOC); the US Olympic Committee (USOC); the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular Affairs (CA); and the Italian Ministry of Interior (MOI). KEY EVENTS -------------- ¶4. (U) Olympic events transpired on 02/13/2006 without disruption. The overall security posture for the Games remains high at all public venues. SECURITY -------------- ¶5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. Italian officials remain vigilant for indications of terrorist operations. OSOC personnel are available for immediate recall to supplement existing 24/7 JOC and TIC staff should an Olympics-related incident occur. ¶6. (SBU) Threats: There is no credible, specific information suggesting that terrorists intend to target the Olympic Games. Italian law enforcement authorities remain on high alert for suspicious activity throughout Italy despite the lack of a known terrorist threat. The actions of activist groups opposed to the Olympics and the TAV (high-speed train) continue to be of concern; Italian security forces are working with their international counterparts to diminish the potential for disruptions to the Games. ¶7. (S/NF) Please see TD-314/10380-06 for reporting on imams in Turin supporting the Olympic Games and evident acceptance by the local Muslim community. DEMONSTRATIONS/PROTESTS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) An official of the Forest Police has informed OSOC that authorities are investigating the possibility that No-TAV supporters may attempt to attack one or more Olympic venues by throwing paint. At this juncture, there are no additional details regarding the specific time or place of such attacks, or exactly how the paint would be used. OSOC is working with Italian authorities to obtain further information. ¶9. (SBU) The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has reported that a resident anarchist is to be tried in a local court for allegedly setting fire to three garbage cans earlier in the year. Although the trial has no connection to the Olympics, the MOI is concerned that supporters of the detainee may assemble to protest the proceedings. The OSOC liaison to the MOI is currently attempting to determine the date and location of the hearing. ¶10. (U) OSOC plans to monitor two sessions of a "No-TAV" symposium at Palazzo Nuovo scheduled for 1730 and 2100 hours on 02/14/2006. The TAV is the European high-speed train that has prompted demonstrations in weeks prior to Olympics, some of which involved destructive activity by anarchists. INCIDENTS -------------- ¶11. (U) In a follow-up to previously reported information, La Repubblica provided additional details of how the Italian postal police successfully thwarted a cyber attack on the TOROC computer system. According to the report, an employee of the company responsible for providing systems maintenance for TOROC has been accused of possessing false credentials in an attempt to gain unauthorized access, possibly to carry out the attack. OSOC has confirmed this account with the MOI, who also noted that the alleged hacker is an Italian citizen. ¶12. (SBU) Italian law enforcement officials informed OSOC that on 02/12/2006, a large, unattended suitcase was discovered at the parking entrance to the Turin Palace, which houses NBC,s headquarters in Turin. The package was x-rayed, determined to be safe, and removed. ¶13. (SBU) Italian authorities at Torino Caselle Airport detained two individuals, a U.S. citizen and Nigerian national, who attempted to pick up a suspicious shipment marked with Arabic characters. OSOC conducted record checks for both parties with negative results on the American, and shared the information with Italian counterparts. OSOC, working with Italian authorities, also determined that the suspect material was of a religious nature and represented no threat. Both men were subsequently released. ¶14. (U) OSOC provided assistance to the family of a U.S. athlete injured during the luge competition. On-site field liaison agents collected family members and facilitated their transportation to the hospital where the athlete was being treated. The USOC has conveyed its appreciation to OSOC for its actions. SECURITY OPERATIONS -------------- ¶15. (SBU) USG security activities - ongoing liaison with host government entities, Olympics security officials, US corporate security and the USSS security detail - continue on a daily basis. VIPs -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush remains in Turin on private travel, and is expected to depart on 02/15/2006. On 02/14/2006, she is scheduled to attend Olympic events. ¶17. (SBU) The MOI has advised that there are currently 23 international VIPs in Turin, including 4 heads of state, 5 members of royal families, and 13 government ministers. There are no U.S. officials identified. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶18. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved. OSOC continues to interact with Italian counterparts regarding security concerns related to the missing pass. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶19. (U) The following is a summary of media reports for 02/14/2006: - The local edition of La Stampa carried an article on Barbara Bush's activities in Turin, accompanied by a photograph and caption of woman wrongly identified as the President's daughter. - Il Foglio features an article entitled "Torinistan and the Olympic Truce," which describes the separation between the Islamic and non-Islamic communities in Turin under normal times. The article highlights the apparent invisibility of the Muslim community during the Olympics. The piece describes the activities, institutions and personalities in the Turin Islamic community, noting that the city continues to be a popular political venue for major Italian Islamic leaders. - Il Messaggero contains a report stating that the Italian media has carried far less positive coverage of the Olympic Games in comparison to American media outlets. - In article similar to report noted above in La Repubblica, the business-focused newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore is also reporting on the thwarted attempt of an Italian national to break into TOROC's computer systems. Reporting indicates that TOROC's system has run perfectly since the onset of the Games. - Most media sources focus on domestic politics and general election campaign, highlighting opposition leader Romano Prodi's declared support for the construction of the TAV, despite protests in region near Turin supported by far-left coalition partners. ¶20. (U) PA continues to work with USOC and others to schedule interviews with US athletes for the Italian press. The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 39-011-55-99-368. CONSULAR AFFAIRS -------------- ¶21. (U) Consular employees successfully resolved a welfare and whereabouts (W/W) case involving two American citizens. The two Americans experienced transportation delays after Olympic events and local police facilitated their return to hotels. ¶22. (U) Consular section received three emergency passports produced in Consulate Milan; consular staff is in the process of distributing these passports to previously-reported customers. ¶22. (U) The Consular Office may be contacted at the following numbers: 011-5599-330 (tel.); 011-5599-551 (fax). Additional information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov. SPOGLI