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