Hand grenade/explosive attacks in Ethiopia

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001497

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR: DS/IP/AF, DS, IP/ITA, AF/E

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER ET
SUBJECT: Hand grenade/explosive attacks in Ethiopia

REF: ADDIS ABABA 1308


1. (U) SUMMARY: The Embassy has received reports of four separate
and unrelated incidents involving explosives (most likely hand
grenades) used to carry out attacks in different regions of
Ethiopia. An incident in the Amhara Region resulted in 8 dead and
26 wounded. The other three incidents occurred in Jijjiga, capital
of Ethiopia's Somali (Ogaden) Region. One of these incidents
involved hand grenades used during a personal dispute. The second
incident involved smugglers (NFI) who threw hand grenades at the
police. The third incident involved a hand grenade thrown at a
Shell gas station. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On May 12, unknown persons detonated an explosive device
(reported by the police to be a hand grenade) at a local fundraising
bazaar in the town of Felakit (Mekit Woreda, North Wello Zone),in
the Amhara Region. Eight civilians were reported killed (including
one Ethiopian police officer) and 26 were wounded. The perpetrators
of this incident remain at large, and police investigation is
ongoing. The motive for the attack remains unclear, but local
officials express concern that the Patriotic Front may be
responsible. The Patriotic Front has previously been active in the
Amhara Region, but in North Gondar Zone, not in the North Wello
Zone.


3. (U) Jijjiga is the capital of Ethiopia's Somali (Ogaden) Region.
Initially, there were fears the three explosions there were related
to each other and possibly terrorist attacks. These three incidents
appear to be unrelated to each other. It is not uncommon in
Ethiopia for hand grenades to be used to settle personal disputes,
as is the case in one of the Jijjiga incidents. The second Jijjiga
incident involved criminals who were attempting to evade the police,
two of whom were later apprehended. The third Jijjiga incident
targeted a Shell fuel station and is believed by many to be the work
of the Ogaden National Liberation front (ONLF). The three Jijjiga
incidents resulted in only minimal property damage and no reported
serious injuries or deaths.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Hand grenades and other military weapons are
readily available on the black market in the Somali (Ogaden) Region.
While hand grenades and weapons are available on the black market
in Addis Ababa, they are considerably more expensive and less
accessible. To date, the ONLF has not claimed responsibility for
the attack on the Shell fuel station in Jijjiga, although it has
warned against foreign exploitation of mineral resources in the
Ogaden. The ONLF publicly acknowledged responsibility for an April
24 attack on a Chinese oil facility in the Somali Region that killed
9 Chinese and over 80 Ethiopians (reftel). END COMMENT.

YAMAMOTO