TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 000543

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) #16, 02/22/2006

REF: ROME 511

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 National Information
Center for the Winter Olympics (CNIO),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) The eleventh day of Olympics sporting events
concluded without disruption on 02/21/2006.


5. (SBU) In advance of the Closing Ceremonies, OSOC
representatives will conduct an Olympics security briefing
for U.S sponsors, organizations, and businesses in Turin.
The briefing will provide an update on the current security
situation in Turin, an overview of logistical issues in
advance of the Closing Ceremonies, and OSOC plans to support
next month,s (March 10-19) Paralympic Games.


6. (SBU) The Olympic Games will end on 02/26/2006, following
a celebratory weekend in Turin that includes the arrivals of
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and the White House
Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies, as well as an "Olympic
Night" festival in which stores and restaurants will remain
open late into the evening. Due to the planned festivities,
security in the city and around Olympic venues is expected to
be tight. OSOC is working with Italian counterparts to
obtain information on additional security measures in place
from 02/24/2006-02/26/2006.


7. (SBU) All elements of the USG presence in Turin are
reviewing operations and security procedures for the upcoming
Paralympics. Though the footprint will be reduced for the
Paralympics, OSOC will remain engaged in providing security,
consular, public affairs, and logistics assistance to U.S.
Paralympic sponsors, spectators, and athletes.

SECURITY
--------------

Terrorist Activity/Threats:


8. (S/NF) Italian authorities remain alert for indications
that terrorist organizations intend to target the Olympic
Games. There has been no update on previously reported
potential terrorist activity elsewhere in Italy.


9. (SBU) OSOC learned through CNIO liaison that the jihadist
website "Al-Meer Forum" posted a statement issued by the
"Conquerors Army of Iraq" containing a generalized threat to
Italy. CNIO Interpol representatives stated that the posting
was likely a reflection of the recent Italian t-shirt
controversy and did not indicate a direct threat to the
Olympic Games. Subsequent review of open source reporting by
OSOC confirmed that the Internet posting was indeed a
response to the ongoing cartoon/t-shirt issue. OSOC will
continue to monitor reactions to the website, focusing on
indications that individuals may pick up on the website,s
call to action to plan protests or disruptions in Turin. In
conjunction with Italian counterparts, OSOC continually
monitors the security environment for indications that
cartoon-related unrest could spread to the Olympic theater.

Demonstrations/Protests:


10. (U) OSOC is not aware of any demonstrations or protests
scheduled to occur on 02/22/2006. Italian authorities remain
attuned to the potential for protests against the Olympics or
in reaction to the cartoon controversy.

Incidents:


11. (SBU) As reported in previous situation reports, hotel
break-ins continue to occur in Turin. OSOC has learned of
rash of incidents targeting five hotels on 02/20/2006. While
American citizens have not yet been the victims of these
crimes, many of the targeted hotels house U.S. Olympic
sponsor corporations, their employees, and their guests.
Specifically, on 02/20/2006, employees of Kodak reported the
theft of a passport, money and a laptop computer from their
rooms while they were attending an Olympic event. The MOI
has indicated to OSOC that they consider these incidents to
be "inside jobs" as there is no sign of forced entry into the
rooms. OSOC notes that the perpetrators appear to be
targeting hotels with no credential systems in place and with
limited police presence in front of the facilities. Many of
the affected hotels require guests to leave their keys at the
reception desk when the guests depart the hotel, allowing
perpetrators to identify the rooms that are unoccupied. The
MOI continues to investigate the thefts. OSOC has alerted
U.S. private sector representatives to the increased
incidence of hotel-related thefts and will continue to work
with U.S. Olympic sponsors to address security concerns at
hotels and hospitality houses.


12. (SBU) On 02/21/2006, the MOI reported the theft of a
TETRA radio to CNIO law enforcement representatives. This
incident is not viewed as a serious compromise of
communications security, as Italian authorities have remotely
deactivated the radio and removed it from the communications
net to prevent its further usage. In the event that
authorities had not been able to deactivate the radio, the
compromise in communications was still judged to be minor, as
users can only access their assigned frequency and cannot
monitor the transmissions of agencies on other frequencies.
The MOI loaned 12 TETRA radios to OSOC for use during the
Olympics--the stolen radio was not one of the units given to
OSOC. OSOC will follow-up with MOI to obtain additional
details on the incident.


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


13. (SBU) The MOI informed OSOC that Italian law enforcement
has identified the anonymous caller who reported
Olympics-related threat information on 02/17/2006, by tracing
a second call made to law enforcement authorities. According
to the MOI, the individual is mentally unstable and has
repeatedly placed calls to the local police in an effort to
gain attention.


14. (S/NF) According to recent reporting, foreign government
officials are concerned that unknown individuals may be
attempting to probe security operations at venues and other
Olympic-related facilities. Please refer to TD-314/12457-06
for further information. As reported in previous sitreps,
OSOC has raised this concern with the MOI in reaction to the
number of incidents involving suspicious packages left in
public areas. The Dutch Consul General, present in Turin for
Olympics events, reported to U.S. Consul General that Italian
security officials have responded quickly and effectively to
requests for increased security at the Dutch sponsor
hospitality venue.


15. (S/NF) In an update on the arrest of a Tunisian national
in Milan on 2/18/2006, Italian authorities have commented
that the individual reportedly does not have any known
connections to terrorism or Islamic extremism. Refer to
TD-314/12446-06 for additional information.


16. (SBU) TSA reported to OSOC that Italian authorities will
close the airspace around Turin on 02/26/2006 from 1800-2330
hrs, in conjunction with the Closing Ceremonies. The Italian
Air Force has direct control of Turin airspace and is working
closely with other Italian security entities to enhance
security measures for end of the Olympics.

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


17. (SBU) The White House Delegation to the Closing
Ceremonies will arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006. Their current
schedule indicates a full range of activities on 02/25/2006
and 02/26/2006, including public appearances, MOI-hosted
security briefing, press meetings, attendance at a USG-hosted
reception, and attendance at the Closing Ceremonies on
02/26/2006. An additional member has now been added to the
delegation. PA continues to work with Italian media to
schedule press coverage of the delegation,s visit.


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


18. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass. In
response to ongoing OSOC concerns about the use of the
vehicle pass to bypass access controls, OSOC drivers are
being asked to report on the security procedures they
encounter when using vehicle passes to enter a venue or
secure Olympic site.


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


19. (U) Italian media continues to give front-page focus to
domestic politics. Olympics-related coverage of sporting
events remains straightforward and generally positive.


20. (U) Italian dailies prominently featured the appearance
of Prime Minister Berlusconi,s 02/21/2006 interview on
al-Jazeera. In the interview, Berlusconi calls for
inter-religious dialogue and asks the Islamic nations for
mutual respect. He stated that he has spoken with Libyan
President Gadhafi and that relations between Libya and Italy
remain good. Newspapers also focused on the fact that Libyan
leaders have contradicted Italian Foreign Minister Fini,s
comments that the recent attack against the Italian Consulate
in Benghazi was the result of internal Libyan matters rather
than the cartoon/t-shirt controversy.


21. (U) Olympics news continues to center on the Austrian
Olympic Team doping scandal. Two Austrian athletes have
reportedly confessed to using illegal substances and the IOC
has announced that it will initiate a special panel to
investigate the doping allegations after the Games have ended.


22. (U) The U.S. Ambassador,s By-Liner exclusive to Italian
daily La Stampa was captured in the paper,s special Olympics
English supplemental. Above the article is a photo of FLOTUS
at the University of Turin book donation ceremony. The
By-Liner was also summarized in La Stampa,s Italian edition.


23. (U) PA continues to monitor all press and to coordinate
interview requests for the White House Delegation to the
Closing Ceremonies. Working with the USG Control Officer for
the delegation,s visit, PA is planning a press availability
meeting on 02/26/2006 for the delegation at the Turin
Piemonte Media Center. (A similar press program was done for
the FLOTUS delegation.) Media presence is also being planned
for the 02/25/2006 USG reception for the delegation. PA is
providing bios on the White House delegation to Italian
press. The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at
39-011-55-99-368.


CONSULAR AFFAIRS
--------------


24. (U) On 02/21/2006, CA received nine requests from
American citizens (Amcits) for emergency services. In one
instance, a family of five whose passports had been stolen
came to the Consular Office to apply for emergency passports.
Another Amcit retrieved his driver,s license and insurance
card, which were turned into the Consular Office on
02/20/2006; he stated that the items had been stolen while he
was riding a bus. Three additional Amcits, whose passports
were lost or stolen, applied for emergency replacement
passports.


25. (U) On the evening of 02/21/2006, USOC informed CA and
OSOC that a U.S. Olympic coach had been hospitalized for
chest pains. USOC indicated that no additional CA assistance
was necessary at that time. CA is following up to determine
the coach,s status.


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