SUICIDE CAR BOMB TARGETS FOREIGN COMPANY BUS

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000925 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS, DS/DSS, SDERCC, S/CT, S/ES-O, DS/ICI/PII, DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/FPO, NEA/EX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC AG SUBJECT: SUICIDE CAR BOMB TARGETS FOREIGN COMPANY BUS REF: ALGIERS 918 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Twelve people were killed and at least 31 wounded in twin car bombings in Bouira (75 miles east of Algiers) the morning of August 20. The first bomb, which detonated at approximately 0545 hrs, targeted Bouira's regional military command and injured six soldiers. Minutes later, 12 people died and 27 were wounded when a suicide car bomb went off downtown next to Bouira's largest hotel. Most victims from the second bomb were traveling in a bus transporting employees of the Canadian construction firm SNC Lavalin. The attacks followed by less than 24 hours a suicide vehicle bomb attack in Issers that killed 44 people (reftel). End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) exploded in the early morning of August 20 in Bouira, in the mountainous Kabylie region approximately 75 miles east of Algiers. The first detonation occurred at 0545 and targeted Bouira's regional military headquarters. The explosion wounded six people and caused significant damage to the military barracks. Early news reports indicated that the facade of the barracks had been torn off and several other buildings had been damaged. It is still not clear whether the bombing was a suicide attack or if the car was detonated by remote control. After the attack, Bouira was cordoned off by police and several additional roadblocks were set up in the surrounding region. ¶3. (SBU) The second VBIED detonated at approximately 0605 hrs in front of a hotel in the downtown area of Bouira. The explosion reportedly killed 12 people and wounded 27 others traveling on a bus transporting Algerian employees of SNC Lavalin. The Canadian company's employees are picked up in front of the hotel each morning according to a regular schedule. Three buses clearly marked as belonging to SNC Lavalin depart the hotel between 0600 and 0610. According to the company, there were no foreign nationals among the casualties. Witnesses said the suicide bomber appeared to direct his vehicle towards the hotel before turning sharply to hit the bus transporting the SNC Lavalin employees. The attacks occurred as Bouira prepared to host August 20 Martyrs Day commemorations marking events in the 1950s independence war against the French. SEPARATE ROADSIDE BOMB NEAR CONSTANTINE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) According to press and police sources, a roadside bombing occurred late morning on August 19 against a convoy carrying employees of the Japanese company, Cojaal, near Constantine. The device reportedly wounded one police escort officer. Cojaal is building a section of the east/west highway across northern Algeria. Its workers currently reside in a temporary compound called Camp 4. Camp 4 also reportedly came under small arms fire during the night of August 18/19. Although the press and police sources confirm the attacks, Cojaal denies that its camp and employees were directly affected by the incidents. ¶5. (SBU) There have been no claims of responsibility as yet for the August 19 and 20 attacks, though local sources presume that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) will shortly claim them. Armed groups in Boumerdes and the surrounding mountainous, wooded region of Kabylie remain the most active in the country. Algerian government officials estimate that between 300 and 400 AQIM militants are active in the area. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The attacks in Bouira on August 20 were the fifth and possibly sixth suicide attacks in the Kabylie in the last month. The tempo of the suicide attacks is unprecedented and, when combined with other attacks against military and other targets in the region since June, constitutes a pace of terrorist activity not seen in Algeria since at least 2002. DAUGHTON