SITREP ISLAMABAD 20:00 LOCAL -- CONFRONTATION AT RED MOSQUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 002905



SIPDIS



SIPDIS



DS/ITA

DS/IP/SCA



E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2017

TAGS: ASEC, PGOV, PHUM, PTER, PK

SUBJECT: SITREP ISLAMABAD 20:00 LOCAL -- CONFRONTATION AT

RED MOSQUE



REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2829



B. ISLAMABAD 2468

C. ISLAMABAD 2334

D. ISLAMABAD 2270

E. ISLAMABAD 1846

F. ISLAMABAD 1688

G. ISLAMABAD 1647



Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4(b)(d)



1. (C) SUMMARY. Pakistani police forces have engaged with

militants at the "Red Mosque" throughout July 3. The

Government of Pakistan has been under pressure to take action

against the mosque since January 2007. Armed militants run

the mosque and control its large female population. Today,

the government exercised restraint until a series of

provocations, including automatic weapon fire directed at law

enforcement and an attack on a nearby government building,

prompted authorities to use tear gas and gunfire. Embassy

has reported extensively on the Red Mosque and the issues

leading up to this event (see reftels). Post is uncertain

about casualties, but some Pakistani police and a cameraman

have been killed. Possibly as many as fifty students have

been killed and/or injured with a number of women affected by

tear gas moved to local hospitals. Embassy is in touch with

local authorities and embassy's FSN surveillance detection

team is reporting from the site. An American reporter in the

mosque earlier in the day is safe. There is speculation that

Pakistani forces may move into the mosque after dark.



2. (C) We believe that all Americans are safe and accounted

for. CODEL Davis with six members arrived early evening July

3 and is safely in the hotel. END SUMMARY



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Violence breaks out

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3. (C) Early July 3, Pakistani police forces began erecting a

barbed wire fence around the Red Mosque compound in

Islamabad. In response, around 300 female madrassah

residents on the mosque's roof shouted to male militants in

the compound, exhorting them to take action against the law

enforcement authorities putting up the barrier. These male

militants reportedly opened fire first. The police responded

initially by firing tear gas canisters, and later with

gunfire. The male militants (as many as 2,000-3,000),some

wearing gas masks and standing behind sand bag defenses, are

heavily armed with automatic weapons.



4. (C) As of 20:00 local time, the militants continue to

exchange fire with police and Rangers. Media and post

sources indicate that there are up to 5,000 government forces

surrounding the mosque. Hundreds of onlookers, people

arriving for prayers, and journalists are also standing in

the vicinity. Local hospitals are taking in gunshot wound

victims. Some embassy sources speculate that the police and

Rangers plan to launch an assault against the mosque after

nightfall.



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Casualties

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5. (U) Local television broadcasts and embassy sources have

reported the following casualties as of 19:30 local time:

-- 2 Punjab Rangers or policemen killed by gunfire;

-- 10 militants killed by gunfire (estimates have ranged from

5-10);

-- 1 news cameraman killed by gunfire (there are also

unconfirmed reports of a second dead journalist);

-- 1 merchant killed who was caught in crossfire;

-- 60 to 70 militants injured by gunfire, including female

militants.



6. (U) Dozens of mosque women were evacuated to local

hospitals for exposure to tear gas.



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ISLAMABAD 00002905 002 OF 002





Amcit Time reporter safe

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7. (C) Post learned at 16:30 local time that Amcit Erin

Baker, a journalist with Time Magazine, was in the Red Mosque

compound. A Pakistani think tank researcher had taken her to

the mosque at 11:30 in the morning. When the gunfire began,

Ms. Baker remained inside the mosque, but then was able to

leave during a lull in the fighting. RSO contacted Ms. Baker

by cell phone and confirmed that she left the mosque safely.

DCM has communicated this information to the Operations

Center.



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Ministry building set on fire, unconfirmed explosion

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8. (C) During the afternoon, male militants also set fire to

the Ministry of Environment, located near the Red Mosque,

ostensibly because Punjab Rangers were occupying the

building. (The Environment Minister later appeared on local

television and denied Rangers had been present in the

building.) As of 19:30 local time, post does not know the

extent of damage at the Ministry, although there are

unconfirmed reports of 5 to 7 casualties resulting from the

fire and/or an explosion there.



9. (C) At approximately 17:30 local time, sources in the

vicinity of the Red Mosque heard a large explosion. Local

media reported this may have been a suicide bombing. The

mosque's extremist leader, mullah Abdur Ghazi, claimed it was

a suicide attack on the building. Embassy sources in the

area said the explosion was not a suicide bomber, and we are

seeking additional information.



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Embassy response / Actions taken

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10. (C) Post initiated its phone cascade procedure to ensure

that all American staff are safe and accounted for. Post

also issued a text message to all personnel (American and

locally engaged staff) advising them of the situation and to

avoid all unnecessary travel tonight. Post management

decided at 19:00 local time not to call an Emergency Action

Committee (EAC) meeting because most EAC members had already

left the embassy, and it would have been unwise for them to

drive back to the embassy compound. Post will continue to

monitor the situation throughout the night and decide if an

EAC is necessary tomorrow July 4.



11. (C) At least four embassy residences are in the same

sector as the Red Mosque (G 6/3). Post has determined that

these residences are not in any immediate danger but we will

continue to monitor the situation.



12. (C) CODEL Davis, with six members and two staff, arrived

evening of July 3 and are safely in the hotel.



PATTERSON