HYDERABAD MOSQUE BOMBING: CITY CALM; POLICE SEE

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