Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME443
2006-02-14 11:33:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS - USG SITUATION

Tags:  ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS 
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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 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)

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