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:


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