Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHENNAI365
2007-05-21 12:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:
HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000365
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC CASC KISL IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
REF: A) CHENNAI 0363 B) 2006 CHENNAI 0024
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000365
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC CASC KISL IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
REF: A) CHENNAI 0363 B) 2006 CHENNAI 0024
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Hyderabad was calm, but tense over the weekend
after the May 18 bombing of the Mecca Masjid (ref A). Citizens
heeded calls from government and religious leaders to remain
peaceful, despite the news that at least five people were killed by
the police as the authorities tried to gain control over the
situation in the wake of the bombing. The use of an improvised
explosive device (IED) detonated by a mobile phone has led
authorities to believe that the bombing was a terrorist attack,
likely conducted by a jehadi group with international connections.
END SUMMARY.
--------------
HYDERABAD CALM; NO COMMUNAL CONFLICT
--------------
2. (SBU) Despite concerns that the bombing might set off violence
between Hindus and Muslims, Hyderabad was calm over the weekend.
Religious and political leaders from across the spectrum asked
citizens to keep the peace. Critically, the funerals of the victims
were conducted without incident. Muslim groups organized rallies,
processions, and a statewide shutdown. Hindu-Muslim relations were
surprisingly positive. Asauddin Owaisi, a prominent Muslim Member
of Parliament told post, "Hindus in solidarity with Muslims closed
down their shops and establishments on May 19 in Hyderabad to mark
the fight against terrorism."
3. (SBU) The situation remained tense, however, with the Muslim
community concerned about the police response.
Jannat Husein, Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, confirmed
that in addition to the nine people killed in the bomb blast, five
were killed by bullets fired by the police. Owaisi said that
despite the calm, Muslims are upset that the police resorted to
deadly force in the aftermath of the bombing. He said that his
Majlis-ettehidad-Muslimeen party would meet with Chief Minister
Y.S.R. Reddy on May 21 to demand an inquiry by the Central Bureau of
Investigation and the suspension of senior police officials pending
the investigation. "Hyderabad in general is peaceful but the old
city and Charminar areas are still tense," said Owaisi. (NOTE: The
tension was exemplified by two separate, unsubstantiated rumors of
bombings in different parts of Hyderabad on May 21. END NOTE.)
--------------
IED USED IN ATTACK SUGGESTS "FOREIGN HAND"
--------------
4. (U) On May 20, Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy told the media that
there is "overwhelming" evidence of a "foreign hand" in the attack.
Media reports echoed this sentiment. On May 19 "The Hindu" reported
that the design of the IEDs, particularly the use of a mobile phone
as detonator, is distinctive of Jaish-e-Mohammed. The "New Indian
Express" wrote that a SIM card found at the blast site that was
purchased in Kolkata could link the bombing to alleged Pakistani
Inter-Services Intelligence agents who infiltrated into India from
Bangladesh or to a member of the Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami named
Mohammed Abdul Sahed (aka Bilal). The reports connect
Jaish-e-Mohammed to Pakistan, and Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami to both
Pakistan and Bangladesh.
5. (SBU) Additional Director General of Police for Intelligence
Aravinda Rao told post on May 18 the bombing was a terrorist attack.
According to Rao's May 18 report, the IEDs were composed of two
hand grenades taped together and attached to a cell phone. On May
21 he corrected himself and said that the IEDs were made up of metal
cylinders filled with RDX and TNT wired to a cell phone (confirming
media reports that RDX and TNT were used). He also said that police
recovered only one, not two, unexploded devices. Rao said that the
intelligence available to him pointed to the same group that
conducted the suicide bombing at Hyderabad's Police Task Force
CHENNAI 00000365 002 OF 002
office in October 2005. Hyderabad officials believe the October
2005 attack was connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives trained in
Bangladesh (ref B). (NOTE: In January 2006, Hyderabad police
averted a terror attack arresting two Indian citizens and recovering
several explosive devices. The individuals arrested implicated a
third Hyderabad native with alleged links to Jaish-e-Mohammed. END
NOTE) In January 2006, a senior police official told post that
Hyderabad was becoming a "common convergence point" for terrorism.
KAPLAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC CASC KISL IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
REF: A) CHENNAI 0363 B) 2006 CHENNAI 0024
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Hyderabad was calm, but tense over the weekend
after the May 18 bombing of the Mecca Masjid (ref A). Citizens
heeded calls from government and religious leaders to remain
peaceful, despite the news that at least five people were killed by
the police as the authorities tried to gain control over the
situation in the wake of the bombing. The use of an improvised
explosive device (IED) detonated by a mobile phone has led
authorities to believe that the bombing was a terrorist attack,
likely conducted by a jehadi group with international connections.
END SUMMARY.
--------------
HYDERABAD CALM; NO COMMUNAL CONFLICT
--------------
2. (SBU) Despite concerns that the bombing might set off violence
between Hindus and Muslims, Hyderabad was calm over the weekend.
Religious and political leaders from across the spectrum asked
citizens to keep the peace. Critically, the funerals of the victims
were conducted without incident. Muslim groups organized rallies,
processions, and a statewide shutdown. Hindu-Muslim relations were
surprisingly positive. Asauddin Owaisi, a prominent Muslim Member
of Parliament told post, "Hindus in solidarity with Muslims closed
down their shops and establishments on May 19 in Hyderabad to mark
the fight against terrorism."
3. (SBU) The situation remained tense, however, with the Muslim
community concerned about the police response.
Jannat Husein, Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, confirmed
that in addition to the nine people killed in the bomb blast, five
were killed by bullets fired by the police. Owaisi said that
despite the calm, Muslims are upset that the police resorted to
deadly force in the aftermath of the bombing. He said that his
Majlis-ettehidad-Muslimeen party would meet with Chief Minister
Y.S.R. Reddy on May 21 to demand an inquiry by the Central Bureau of
Investigation and the suspension of senior police officials pending
the investigation. "Hyderabad in general is peaceful but the old
city and Charminar areas are still tense," said Owaisi. (NOTE: The
tension was exemplified by two separate, unsubstantiated rumors of
bombings in different parts of Hyderabad on May 21. END NOTE.)
--------------
IED USED IN ATTACK SUGGESTS "FOREIGN HAND"
--------------
4. (U) On May 20, Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy told the media that
there is "overwhelming" evidence of a "foreign hand" in the attack.
Media reports echoed this sentiment. On May 19 "The Hindu" reported
that the design of the IEDs, particularly the use of a mobile phone
as detonator, is distinctive of Jaish-e-Mohammed. The "New Indian
Express" wrote that a SIM card found at the blast site that was
purchased in Kolkata could link the bombing to alleged Pakistani
Inter-Services Intelligence agents who infiltrated into India from
Bangladesh or to a member of the Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami named
Mohammed Abdul Sahed (aka Bilal). The reports connect
Jaish-e-Mohammed to Pakistan, and Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami to both
Pakistan and Bangladesh.
5. (SBU) Additional Director General of Police for Intelligence
Aravinda Rao told post on May 18 the bombing was a terrorist attack.
According to Rao's May 18 report, the IEDs were composed of two
hand grenades taped together and attached to a cell phone. On May
21 he corrected himself and said that the IEDs were made up of metal
cylinders filled with RDX and TNT wired to a cell phone (confirming
media reports that RDX and TNT were used). He also said that police
recovered only one, not two, unexploded devices. Rao said that the
intelligence available to him pointed to the same group that
conducted the suicide bombing at Hyderabad's Police Task Force
CHENNAI 00000365 002 OF 002
office in October 2005. Hyderabad officials believe the October
2005 attack was connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives trained in
Bangladesh (ref B). (NOTE: In January 2006, Hyderabad police
averted a terror attack arresting two Indian citizens and recovering
several explosive devices. The individuals arrested implicated a
third Hyderabad native with alleged links to Jaish-e-Mohammed. END
NOTE) In January 2006, a senior police official told post that
Hyderabad was becoming a "common convergence point" for terrorism.
KAPLAN