NEPAL: AIRPORT THREAT PROMPTS ADDITIONAL SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001720 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PTER EAIR KSEC NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: AIRPORT THREAT PROMPTS ADDITIONAL SECURITY REF: KATHMANDU 1666 Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) Press Reports Airport Bomb Threat -------------- ¶1. (U) A leftist weekly, Jana Aastha, reported September 12 that Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had received an emailed threat of an attack against Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport September 10 from an unknown group. The email was signed "T Army of Nepal." (Note: An organization by the name "Terai Army of Nepal" claimed responsibility for the September 2 triple bombing. See reftel. End Note.) The article went on to point out that the Nepal Police had issued a circular in response calling for an increase in security within the Kathmandu Valley. Aviation Authority Confirms Email -------------- ¶2. (C) Yagya Prasad Gautam, the Director General of the CAA, confirmed the existence of the email on September 12. Gautam stated to Emboff that the Authority had immediately notified the police and the Army to request enhanced security which had subsequently been provided. He said they were also attempting to identify the sender of the email, but, as yet, without success. Gautam noted that he had been particularly concerned about an attack on September 11, the 9-11 anniversary. He was beginning to think it had been a hoax, but did not want to take any chances. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) The Government of Nepal appears to be taking these threats seriously, particularly in the context of the September 2 explosions and strong concern that nothing be allowed to derail the planned election in November. Already after September 2, Mission staff had noticed increased police presence in the streets in the daytime and an uptick in random vehicle inspections at night. Embassy staff have also observed an enhanced police presence at Tribhuvan International Airport and, significantly, the Nepal Army's passive presence at the entrance. The vague nature of the threat, amidst a consistent rumor mill of anticipated bombings, may well be a hoax. Post is updating its travel warning for Nepal to include advice to exercise vigilance and caution in public places, including airports and bus stops, and to avoid travel via microbus. POWELL