Recent Improvised Explosive Device Incidents in Ethiopia.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 001502 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR: DS/IP/AF, IP/ITA, AF/E, AND CA/OCS/ACS S/CT FOR B.PHIPPS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC ASEC PTER ET SUBJECT: Recent Improvised Explosive Device Incidents in Ethiopia. ¶1. (U) During the past several months there have been numerous apparent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) incidents in Ethiopia, with an increased number occurring in Addis Ababa. This appears to be a reoccurrence of the trend of approximately 35 to 40 similar IED incidents reported within Addis Ababa during the period of April 2005 and November 2006. ¶2. (U) Below are the latest apparent IED incidents for 2008 reported in Ethiopia. Note, this list does not include grenade incidents (primarily tend to occur in the Somalia region). ¶A. FEBRUARY 29 - MERKATO DISTRICT COMMERCIAL BANK EXPLOSION. On February 29, 2008 at 1615 hours there was an explosion outside the Commercial Bank Branch located in the Merkato District of Addis Ababa. No injuries or deaths were reported, however the bank building did sustain damage. No groups have claimed responsibility for this incident. Police investigation is ongoing. This explosion was determined to be the result of an IED. ¶B. MARCH 13 - HUMERA BUS EXPLOSION On March 13, 2008 there was an explosion on a bus in Humera (northern Ethiopia, near the Ethiopian-Eritrea border) resulting in 7 killed and at least 10 injured. No groups have claimed responsibility for this incident. Police investigation is ongoing. It is assumed this explosion was the result of an IED. ¶C. MARCH 21 -IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DETONATED AT BOLE/RING ROAD During the late night/early morning hours an Improvised Explosive Device was detonated under a highway overpass at Bole and Ring Road in Addis Ababa (in close proximity to the International Airport). No casualties or property damage was reported. No groups have claimed responsibility for this incident. Police investigation is ongoing ¶D. MARCH 21 - EXPLOSION HEARD NEAR CHURCH On March 21, 2008 at approximately 0400 hours several Embassy guards reported hearing a loud explosion in the vicinity of St. Michael's church in Addis Ababa. Further confirmation regarding the cause of this explosion could not be verified. MARCH 28 - EXPLOSION AT ADDIS ABABA LION ZOO On Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 0130 hours there was an explosion at the Addis Ababa City Administration Lion Zoo. An Improvised Explosive Device exploded in a public restroom �00A;facility, resulting in some property damage and no deaths or injuries. No groups have claimed responsibility for this incident. Police investigation is ongoing. ¶E. APRIL 14 - TWO COMMERCIAL GAS STATIONS BOMBED IN ADDIS ABABA On April 14, 2008 at approximately 1835 hours during the evening rush hour period two commercial petrol stations experienced near simultaneous explosions. The two petrol stations are both part of the same chain (National Oil Corporation - which is closely affiliated with the government) and are located approximately five minutes driving time from each other. These explosions resulted in four civilians killed and 16 to 19 others injured. Both of these explosions were reported to have occurred at the kerosene pumps, which seems to indicate the perpetrators were focused on targeting Ethiopians. Kerosene is primarily used by local civilians for cooking and heating purposes. It is not uncommon to see lines of local civilians queued at the kerosene pumps making purchases in small quantities. The Ethiopian police confirmed the explosions were the result of Improvised Explosive Devices (concealed in jerry cans or liquid containers) left in the immediate proximity of the kerosene pumps by unknown individuals. No groups have claimed responsibility for this incident. Police investigation is ongoing; there have been some reports of suspects in custody. ¶F. MAY 20 - MINI BUS PUBLIC TRANSPORT BOMBING IN ADDIS ABABA On Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at approximately 2008 hours local time a local public transport mini bus exploded on a public street located adjacent to the Hilton Hotel, directly outside the offices of the Ethiopian Government Mapping Agency and in close proximity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This incident occurred approximately 1.5 miles south of the U.S. Chancery, on a heavily traveled street passing through a part of the ADDIS ABAB 00001502 002 OF 003 city primarily occupied by Government of Ethiopia offices (to include Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister's Office and National Intelligence Security Service) as well as the two major hotels (Hilton and Sheraton). Six civilians were reported killed, 5 others were reported wounded as result of this incident. One of those killed was an American citizen who was a passenger in the bus. The bus originated its route at Addis Ababa University shortly before the explosion. Mini bus public transports are a significant part of the local public transportation infrastructure. These mini buses travel throughout the city, picking and dropping off passengers along their routes. These public transports are typically configured to haul between 12 to 14 passengers each, and are identified by their common markings of blue and white two-tone exterior paint. As of yet, no groups have claimed responsibility for this bombing and police investigation is on-going. It has been determined the explosion was the result of a timed Improvised Explosive Device placed on the bus. ¶G. MAY 26 - HOTEL BOMBINGS NEGALLE BORENA: On Monday, May 26, 2008 at approximately 1945 hours two hotels located in Negalle Boreno experienced explosions resulting in three killed and five wounded. Negalle Borena is a city in Oromiya Regional State, located 320 miles south of Addis Ababa. Police investigation is on going. There is some speculation these bombing were carried out by the Oromiya Liberation Front (OLF). A Somali militant group reportedly accepted responsibility for this bombing on a Mogadishu based radio station broadcast, stating the hotel bombing targeted Ethiopians as "enemies of Islam." ¶H. MAY 28 - MERKATO BOMBING PLOT FOILED On May 28, 2008 at approximately 1200 hours there was a report of a foiled IED attack in the Addis Ababa Merkato district, at a busy local liquor/grocery store which includes a small tavern. The Merkato district is a densely populated commercial center, primarily frequented by Ethiopians. A local male youth loitering outside the store was approached by an unidentified Ethiopian (NFI) and asked to carry a parcel to give to another party inside the store. The local male youth accepted the parcel and proceeded into the store. An employee in the store became suspicious and confronted the local male youth regarding the parcel. The local male youth stated he received the parcel from another party outside the store By the time the local male youth and store employee went outside to look for the unidentified Ethiopian male subject, they had already disappeared. The store employee immediately called police. Police and EOD personnel arrived at the location and removed the detonating device from the explosive device, rendering it safe. No groups have claimed responsibility for this plot and police investigation is on going ¶3. (U) The above incidents are most likely not all related to the same group, however some inevitably are. The above incidents (especially those occurring within Addis Ababa) illustrate the following trends which are disturbing: ¶A. Previous Addis Ababa IED incidents tended to occur late at night, in unpopulated venues where nobody was likely to get hurt. ¶B. The most recent Addis Ababa IED incidents occurred during day-time hours at populated venues and were carried out in a manner in which casualties/fatalities were assured. ¶C. Previous IED incidents were never claimed by any group and were generally attributed to internal separatist groups. ¶D. If the claims by Somali militant group regarding the Negalle Borneo hotel bombings is correct, this adds a new dynamic to the local threat environment. Previously it was generally assumed any/all IED incidents in Ethiopia were the result of internal separatist groups (OLF or ONLF). ¶4. (U) The recent Addis Ababa IED incidents targeting densely populated venues are disturbing. Many local public venues (to include major hotels and entertainment centers) already enforce access control and security screening measures (all person and their effects are subject to security screening). Some public venues have noticeably enhanced existing security measures (a local cinema was noted to have three levels of physical security screening). The RSO already encourages Mission personnel not to patronize any large uncontrolled public venues that lack access control and security screening. Since the May 20 mini-bus bombings the Ethiopia authorities have conducted several roadside security checkpoints ADDIS ABAB 00001502 003 OF 003 within Addis Ababa in apparent follow up to tips received. These checkpoints involve searching all vehicles and occupants. ¶5. (U) The local population is vigilant, naturally suspicious and quick to notify the authorities in the event of unusual activity (as was the case in the foiled May 28 IED incident targeting a Mercato district retail outlet). On May 30, 2008 local citizens notified the authorities regarding a jerry can observed in the Addis Ababa Piazza district during the morning rush hour. The Ethiopian bomb squad quickly responded, and fortunately the jerry can was determined to not be a threat (it was empty). Nevertheless, the recent IED incidents have resulted in a climate of increased tension among the average citizen who already has more then enough worries in their day-to-day lives, to include; lack of adequate electrical power, lack of adequate water, increased food prices, increased fuel/transportation costs, rampant inflation, increased housing costs, high unemployment, less then favorable social-economic conditions and an uncertain political climate. If these problems persist in the coming months, the general security climate in Ethiopia will continue to become more difficult and uncertain as this country moves towards to 2010 national elections. YAMAMOTO