TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000456 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: 02/15/2016 TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT (SITREP) #9, 02/15/2006 REF: ROME 0443 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. ¶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 used within 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 02/14/2006 without any disturbances. The overall security posture for the Games remains high at all venues. Of note is the intention of Italy's Reform Minister and member of anti-immigration northern league Robert Calderoli to manufacture and distribute t-shirts bearing the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. OSOC is monitoring reactions in local communities for possible impact on the security environment for the Winter Games. The Italian press has not yet picked up on the recent White House announcement that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be leading the Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. SECURITY -------------- Terrorist Activity: �00A;¶5. (U) 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. Threats: ¶6. (SBU) 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 closely monitored; Italian security forces are working with their international counterparts to diminish the potential for disruptions to the Games. Anti-TAV demonstrators and anarchists have in the past gathered on short notice supporters from neighboring countries for violent demonstrations. Demonstrations/Protests: ¶7. (SBU) The No-TAV symposiums that took place in close proximity to corporate venues and the medals plaza on 02/14/2006 were largely uneventful; there were no reports of unrest or disturbances. ¶8. (SBU) The MOI has reported to OSOC that there are no planned, offical demonstrations slated for the upcoming weekend. MOI continues to monitor planning by anti-TAV and anarchist groups for demonstrations and meetings that could become disruptive. Incidents: ¶9. (SBU) On 2/14/2006, the Director of Security for Jet Set Sports, a major Olympics travel package contractor, reported to OSOC that one of its drivers was car-jacked that afternoon while waiting for guests in front of a hotel in Milan (note: Car-jackings are rare in Milan). In addition to the car, the perpetrators stole the victim,s wallet; however, the driver did manage to retain the vehicle,s TOROC access credentials. Carabinieri officers recovered the stolen vehicle, undamaged, a few hours after the theft. OSOC contacted RSO Milan to request assistance for the Jet Set Sports employee. RSO Milan has interviewed the (non-AmCit) victim and is actively monitoring the ongoing police investigation of the case; no arrests have been made yet. ¶10. (SBU) On 02/14/2006, the daily newspaper La Stampa reported that Italian police apprehended an Iraqi citizen nine miles south of the Austrian border. Initial indications suggest that the detainee may be a human trafficker. According to the Turin General Investigations and Special Operations Division (DIGOS) of the national police, the Iraqi was traveling with three female ethnic Chinese nationals, and was in possession of newspaper clippings of the Winter Olympics and receipts from Turin dated from December 2005. He also allegedly attempted to bribe security officials with 4,000 Euros. Italian authorities are attempting to determine the identity of the Iraqi national, who refused to be fingerprinted. OSOC is liaising with Italian counterparts and has offered its assistance, to include conducting record checks. ¶11. (U) According to the popular newspaper La Repubblica, on 02/14/2006, the temporary Spanish Consulate in Turin received a telephonic bomb threat. The building housing the facility was evacuated and searched; no suspicious items were found and all occupants were allowed to return to work. OSOC is attempting to confirm this report. ¶12. (S/REL to US, AUS, CAN and GBR) Electro-optical imagery from 02/13/2006 shows that a RyanAir commercial airliner came within .3 kilometers of the Cesana San Sicario Fraiteve Women's Olympic Alpine Skiing venue, violating the no-fly zone restrictions in place for the Games. No official events were taking place at the time of the infraction. The Olympic Joint Fusion Center at the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) has assessed this incident as benign in nature. ¶13. (SBU) MOI officials advised OSOC of a spike in the number of suspicious packages discovered near corporate venues. The MOI attributes the increase to a heightened degree of security awareness on the part of police and venue security officials. MOI contacts noted that some of the suspicious packages were empty, causing some speculation that they may have been used to gauge the response of security personnel. OSOC and OSAC continue to liaise with U.S. corporate sponsors and Italian authorities to ensure that this type of police vigilance continues for the remainder of the Olympics. ¶14. (U) Italian authorities have relayed to OSOC that mountain venues will open two hours earlier for the remainder of the Games to ease traffic problems that have prevented visitors from reaching Olympics sites in a timely manner. 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. ¶16. (SBU) The Ministry of Interior advised OSOC that it is addressing previously identified shortfalls in venue security by bolstering certain measures, particularly in the areas of screening and perimeter security. VIPs -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush is scheduled to depart Turin for Washington, D.C., on 02/15/2006 at 1245 hours via a commercial flight. ¶18. (SBU) The White House has announced that former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani, renowned race car driver Mario Andretti, the Director of the National Italian-American Foundation, Dr. Cingoli, and U.S. Ambassador Ronald Spogli, will head the official U.S. delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. Italian media has not yet published information related to this announcement. PA is working with local media outlets to ensure wide public coverage of the delegation. PENDING MATTERS -------------- ¶19. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved. OSOC continues to raise this issue with its Italian counterparts, stressing the possible security implications of the missing pass. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶20. (SBU) Reuters Press and other media outlets are reporting that Italy,s Reform Minister Robert Calderoli has had t-shirts made emblazoned with the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Calderoli, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League Party, told the Italian wire service Ansa on 2/14/2006 that the West has to stand up against Islamist extremists, and offered to hand out the t-shirts to anyone who wanted them. OSOC will closely monitor reaction to Calderoli,s statements from the local Muslim community, including any potential impact on the Olympic Games. ¶21. (U) The following is a summary of media activity for 02/15/2006: - The front pages of Italian newspapers area dominated by domestic politics, with nominal mention of Olympics, particularly the performance of Italian athletes. Reports regarding the monitoring of the Avian flu continue. - Italian press is reporting U.S. speedskater Joey Cheeks's intention to donate the prize money from his gold medal performance in the men's 500 meters to a charity benefiting children in Darfur, Sudan. - Italian major circulation press notes that the most recent issue of Time Magazine features a positive review of the Olympic Games under the headline "Bravissimo Torino!" - Italian media has not published any further stories on Barbara Bush. ¶22. (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 -------------- ¶23. (U) On 02/14/2006, three U.S. citizens reported their passports stolen. Separately, an American notified the Consular Section that his credit cards had been pilfered, while another U.S. national requested information on local attorneys to assist in a dispute with a Turin hotel. ¶24. (U) On behalf of the Consular Section, OSOC is providing assistance in locating an American citizen in Turin who has not contacted family members in more than two weeks. ¶25. (U) The Consular Section has learned that local police briefly detained and fined five individuals, including two Americans, for not having the appropriate licenses to sell Olympics merchandise; no formal arrests were made. The Consular Section has provided a list of local lawyers to the Americans in the event they require legal assistance. ¶26. (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