Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHENNAI530
2007-08-27 12:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:
HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO1123 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCG #0530/01 2391211 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 271211Z AUG 07 FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1151 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2724 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0831 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5101 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1356 RUEHCG/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000530
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M S/CT, CA, INR AND DS/IP/SCA
NEW DELHI FOR RSO
MUMBAI FOR RSO
KOLKATA FOR CG AND ADM/PSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PGOV PREL KTER IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT
Ref: Chennai 525
CHENNAI 00000530 001.2 OF 002
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000530
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M S/CT, CA, INR AND DS/IP/SCA
NEW DELHI FOR RSO
MUMBAI FOR RSO
KOLKATA FOR CG AND ADM/PSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PGOV PREL KTER IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT
Ref: Chennai 525
CHENNAI 00000530 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) On August 27, 2007 the RSO convened an EAC meeting to
discuss and update members on new information surrounding the
bombings in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 25. The meeting was
attended by Pol/Econ, PAS, FCS, and FCS. The meeting was chaired by
the Acting Consul General from PAS. The EAC discussed the following
update to reftel:
2. (SBU) There is no information indicating that any U.S. citizens
were victims of the two August 25 bomb blasts in Hyderabad that
killed and injured dozens.
-- Two high-level police officials told Post that 40 people were
killed and 54 injured (some critically). They confirmed the report
we received (reftel) from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's office
that none of the victims were foreigners.
-- A local Telugu-language newspaper published the names of 42
victims killed in the attacks. ConGen Chennai's Consular Section is
checking consular databases to verify that none of the victims were
Amcits.
-- The police also told Post that 11 of those killed were Muslim and
that the rest were Hindu.
3. (SBU) A high-ranking police official told Post that the police
defused a third device under a footbridge in the Dilsukhnagar
district.
-- The same official said media reports stating that the police have
found as many as 19 unexploded bombs are incorrect.
-- They also said that these devices were cruder than the bomb that
exploded in Hyderabad on May 18 (The police also defused two bombs
on that day). These devices used a timed detonator and ammonium
nitrate as the explosive; the May bombing was a TNT-laden device
detonated by cellular phone.
4. (SBU) South Indian states are stepping up security in response to
the Hyderabad bombings.
-- A top Tamil Nadu Law and Order Department official told Post the
Indian government had issued alerts in the wake of the Hyderabad
bombings to all state governments to step up security precautions.
He said that Tamil Nadu has set up new police pickets, increased its
monitoring of transit points, and stepped up security around places
of religious importance and VIP presence. Tamil Nadu's Chief
Minister has called a meeting of police chiefs and other security
officials Monday to review security measures.
-- A Kerala police official told us the state has tightened security
in line with the national government's alert but noted that there
currently are no Kerala-specific threats.
-- A Karnataka Law and Order Department official told us that his
state's police have also stepped up monitoring of railways and bus
stations, but lamented that there was little actionable intelligence
about the alleged perpetrators.
5. (SBU) Political parties have called for general strikes, known in
India as "bandhs," which require people to remain off the streets.
In the past, calls for bandhs have sometimes been enforced with
violence.
-- On August 27, the BJP call for a bandh. A consulate officer
visiting Hyderabad reported that, despite the call for a bandh, the
airport is open and that most businesses in Hyderabad appear to be
operating normally.
-- A police official in charge of the area where many U.S. companies
have facilities told us that the bandh was not affecting the
companies in that area, noting that the police presence there has
been stepped up.
6. (U) Representatives of U.S. businesses told post that the
bombings have affected their operations. They said the bombings are
not likely to impact future investments but that they expect the
government of Andhra Pradesh to take concrete steps to improve the
security situation.
7. (U) Principal Officer spoke with the Principal Secretary to the
CHENNAI 00000530 002.2 OF 002
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on August 26 to convey condolences
to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
8. (U) The EAC will continue to monitor this situation and will
report any significant developments.
HOPPER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M S/CT, CA, INR AND DS/IP/SCA
NEW DELHI FOR RSO
MUMBAI FOR RSO
KOLKATA FOR CG AND ADM/PSO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC ASEC PGOV PREL KTER IN
SUBJECT: HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT
Ref: Chennai 525
CHENNAI 00000530 001.2 OF 002
1. (SBU) On August 27, 2007 the RSO convened an EAC meeting to
discuss and update members on new information surrounding the
bombings in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 25. The meeting was
attended by Pol/Econ, PAS, FCS, and FCS. The meeting was chaired by
the Acting Consul General from PAS. The EAC discussed the following
update to reftel:
2. (SBU) There is no information indicating that any U.S. citizens
were victims of the two August 25 bomb blasts in Hyderabad that
killed and injured dozens.
-- Two high-level police officials told Post that 40 people were
killed and 54 injured (some critically). They confirmed the report
we received (reftel) from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's office
that none of the victims were foreigners.
-- A local Telugu-language newspaper published the names of 42
victims killed in the attacks. ConGen Chennai's Consular Section is
checking consular databases to verify that none of the victims were
Amcits.
-- The police also told Post that 11 of those killed were Muslim and
that the rest were Hindu.
3. (SBU) A high-ranking police official told Post that the police
defused a third device under a footbridge in the Dilsukhnagar
district.
-- The same official said media reports stating that the police have
found as many as 19 unexploded bombs are incorrect.
-- They also said that these devices were cruder than the bomb that
exploded in Hyderabad on May 18 (The police also defused two bombs
on that day). These devices used a timed detonator and ammonium
nitrate as the explosive; the May bombing was a TNT-laden device
detonated by cellular phone.
4. (SBU) South Indian states are stepping up security in response to
the Hyderabad bombings.
-- A top Tamil Nadu Law and Order Department official told Post the
Indian government had issued alerts in the wake of the Hyderabad
bombings to all state governments to step up security precautions.
He said that Tamil Nadu has set up new police pickets, increased its
monitoring of transit points, and stepped up security around places
of religious importance and VIP presence. Tamil Nadu's Chief
Minister has called a meeting of police chiefs and other security
officials Monday to review security measures.
-- A Kerala police official told us the state has tightened security
in line with the national government's alert but noted that there
currently are no Kerala-specific threats.
-- A Karnataka Law and Order Department official told us that his
state's police have also stepped up monitoring of railways and bus
stations, but lamented that there was little actionable intelligence
about the alleged perpetrators.
5. (SBU) Political parties have called for general strikes, known in
India as "bandhs," which require people to remain off the streets.
In the past, calls for bandhs have sometimes been enforced with
violence.
-- On August 27, the BJP call for a bandh. A consulate officer
visiting Hyderabad reported that, despite the call for a bandh, the
airport is open and that most businesses in Hyderabad appear to be
operating normally.
-- A police official in charge of the area where many U.S. companies
have facilities told us that the bandh was not affecting the
companies in that area, noting that the police presence there has
been stepped up.
6. (U) Representatives of U.S. businesses told post that the
bombings have affected their operations. They said the bombings are
not likely to impact future investments but that they expect the
government of Andhra Pradesh to take concrete steps to improve the
security situation.
7. (U) Principal Officer spoke with the Principal Secretary to the
CHENNAI 00000530 002.2 OF 002
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on August 26 to convey condolences
to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
8. (U) The EAC will continue to monitor this situation and will
report any significant developments.
HOPPER