TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000473

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: X1
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT
(SITREP) #10, 02/16/2006

REF: ROME 456

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 02/15/2006 without
disturbances. The overall security posture for the Games
remains high at all venues and Italian authorities remain
alert to attempts by opposition groups to protest and disrupt
events. Regarding the recent publication by international
media of additional prisoner abuse photos at Abu Ghraib
prison, OSOC is monitoring local coverage of the photos and
is working with Italian counterparts to identify any change
to the security environment in Turin due to the photos,
publication.


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 and continue to work with their international
counterparts to monitor the actions of anti-Olympics activist
groups.

Demonstrations/Protests:

7. (S/NF) Please see TD-314/10977-06 for information
regarding the Italian authorities continuing efforts to
monitor anarchists and anti-globalization groups in Turin.
The cable also provides details regarding possible "No-TAV"
and anti-globalization activities for the forthcoming
weekend. OSOC continues to work with Italian law enforcement
to obtain information on ongoing anarchist activities
throughout the Olympic theater.


8. (U) Independent Media Center (Indymedia.org),which has
previously provided schedules and information on
anti-Olympics protests, has invited activists to an "evening
on the dark side of the Olympics" on 02/16/2006 near the
Humanist House, an organization that promotes human rights
through nonviolent means. The planned meeting will include
comment by the author of the book "Power Games," which claims
that the Olympics violate human rights and promote the
enrichment of multi-national corporations rather than
regional development. The event venue is not located adjacent
to any Olympic venues or sites of interest. OSOC continues
to work in conjunction with Italian law enforcement entities
to identify and monitor activist events related to the
Olympics.


9. (U) The global grassroots movement Critical Mass is
planning a bicycle-ride/demonstration in Turin on 02/18/2006.
Critical Mass is a pro-alternative-transportation and
anti-pollution movement. During its events, a number of
cyclists converge on a location at a predetermined time, then
ride slowly through busy city streets, essentially bringing
traffic to a standstill. Critical Mass rides are generally
peaceful, although rides in some cities have provoked
confrontation from vehicle drivers or police. OSOC is
interacting with Italian counterparts to obtain information
on the bike route to be used by Critical Mass.


Incidents:


10. (U) According to the daily newspaper La Stampa, a bomb
scare occurred at Turin,s Caselle airport on 02/15/2006,
after police were alerted to an unattended backpack in the
parking lot. Police blocked off the area and explosive
ordnance disposal (EOD) unit personnel responded to the
scene. The EOD inspected the bag and found it to contain
popcorn. OSOC had been previously alerted to this incident
by USG representative based at Turin,s Caselle airport.


11. (U)The internet version of La Stampa reported that on
02/14/2006, two Italian fighter jets intercepted an aircraft
that was taking aerial photographs for NBC in restricted
airspace. The incident reportedly occurred while the Men,s
Downhill-Slalom Combined event was taking place. Separately,
Italian Ministry of Interior officials have commented to OSOC
CINO liaison that yesterday,s overflight activity (reported
in sitrep) was routine and not cause for alarm.

SECURITY OPERATIONS
--------------


12. (SBU) The Italian Ministry of Interior, with support from
Turin,s chief of police, has provided OSOC with TETRA
radios. These radios give USG field liaison officers
capability to utilize the existing Italian law enforcement
TETRA communications system, and supplement existing comms.


13. (U) Italian security forces continue to evaluate their
Olympic security posture in order to identify potential
vulnerabilities. According to Naples-based daily Il Mattino,
in preparation for the Olympics, all participants and vendors
were required to submit their names and identification in
order to be accredited. The report asserts that the bus
drivers who transport athletes and trainers were not required
to give this information to officials prior to the start of
the Games. After speaking with Ministry of Interior (MOI)
counterparts, OSOC CINO liaison notes that this report
appears uncorroborated, as bus drivers were vetted prior to
the Olympics. OSOC CINO liaison will continue to pursue the
matter with the MOI to determine whether the news report
identified a true security gap.


14. (SBU) On the heels of the Prophet Mohammad cartoon
controversy, OSOC is focused on repercussions of the recent
release of new photos showing prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib
prison in Iraq. OSOC is monitoring all source information for
any indication of anti-US threats stemming from the
publication of the photos. Operationally, OSOC
representatives are interacting with Italian counterparts to
monitor the local response to the photos and to ensure that
U.S. security concerns are being addressed.


VIPs
--------------


15. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush departed Turin without
incident on 02/15/2006.


16. (SBU) The White House delegation for the Closing
Ceremonies, led by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is
scheduled to arrive in Turin late on the evening of
02/24/2006. On 02/25/2006, the delegation will participate
in a reception hosted by the USG and on 02/26/2006, they will
attend the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. The
delegation is currently scheduled to depart Turin immediately
after the Closing Ceremonies. To date, there has been no
Italian press coverage of the delegation. The delegation,s
public schedule is still in development.

PENDING MATTERS
--------------

17. (U) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on
the investigation of and mitigating security measures
regarding the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass.


PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
--------------


18. (U) Overall press coverage on 02/16/2006 focused on
domestic Italian politics, with news on the Abu Ghraib prison
photos dominating the front pages. Olympics-related
reporting continues to gain prominent coverage, with articles
focused primarily on the sporting events themselves.


19. (U) The following is a summary of media activity for
02/16/2006:

--La Stampa reported that stones thrown at the USOC-sponsored
USA House broke windows on the building. According to the
article, with several theories about who threw the stones.
The facts, according to OSOC liaison with Italian authorities
indicate that an individual three times ejected from the USA
House compound threw a stone, with no damage resulting, after
jumping the fence in response to being expelled from the
premises.

--National newspaper Il Giornale published a portrait of a
woman who is allegedly directing USG security operations at
the Olympics for the FBI. OSOC does not recognize the
individual as a USG employee. The paper also commented that
satellite security coverage of the Olympics is working well.

--La Repubblica and most newspapers reported that Prime
Minister Berlusconi has asked for the resignation of the
Italian Reform Minister Calderoli, who announced he would
wear T-shirts emblazoned with the controversial cartoons of
the Prophet Mohammad.

--La Repubblica also reported that on 02/18/2006, protesters
will conduct a pro-Palestinian/pro-Iraqi march through Rome.
The groups conducting the march are fringe elements of the
far left that are not recognized by the extreme left parties
of the opposition coalition; the march appears to be
exclusive to Rome and is not expected to impact on operations
in Turin.

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) CA had no requests for passport assistance on
02/15/2006. Consulate General Milan issued an emergency
passport using an application approved by the Consular Office
in Turin. The passport will be delivered to Turin on
02/16/2006.


22. (U) On 02/15/2006, CA worked with Turin police to gain
information about a second detention of alleged American
citizens. Police officers investigating reports of Olympic
tickets being sold without proper licenses detained all
people present in a downtown store*including the potential
Amcits. CA has requested a copy of the police report naming
the individuals involved in order to verify their citizenship
and, if appropriate, provide them with a list of local
attorneys.


23. (U) CA has received a report from the Italian police
that confirms the information on the arrest of American
citizens previously reported via in the sitrep dated
02/14/2006. Police indicated that three of the four detained
individuals produced U.S. passports, while the fourth
possessed a U.S. resident card. All were released and one
person received a fine. An interpreter and an attorney were
provided to the Amcits.


24. (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