Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU1720
2007-09-12 11:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: AIRPORT THREAT PROMPTS ADDITIONAL SECURITY
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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
---------------------------------
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
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