SITREP 04, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD: ONE MISSING TDY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003080

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL AMGT CACS ASEC PTER PINR
SUBJECT: SITREP 04, AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD: ONE MISSING TDY
PERSONNEL CONFIRMED DEAD, ONE STILL MISSING

REF: A. ISLAMABAD 3078

B. ISLAMABAD 3076

C. ISLAMABAD 3075

D. ISLAMABAD 3074

Classified By: Anne W. Patterson for reasons 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (C) As of September 21, 1830 hours (local time) the body
of one missing TDY employee has been identified in the ruins
of the Marriott hotel, bringing the total number of official
Americans killed to two. One TDY employee remains missing
and is feared dead. A Department of Defense medevac flight
left Chaklala Airbase in Islamabad for the U.S. military base
in Bagram, Afghanistan on September 21 at 0730, carrying one
patient and the remains of one deceased. One official
American remains hospitalized at Shifa Hospital and will be
medevaced on U.S. military aircraft at 0100 on September 22.
The aircraft will also transport the remains of the recently
identified second official American fatality. One Embassy
contractor will remain at Shifa Hospital for observation over
the next few days. An additional Embassy employee from
DHS/ICE will be medevaced via commercial air to London on
September 22. Islamabad remains relatively quiet with
beefed-up police presence along major thoroughfares.


2. (C) Local media reports that the death toll of the attack
currently stands at 57 with 271 injured. The death toll will
likely rise as Pakistani authorities continue to search for
victims in the hotel. Czech Ambassador to Pakistan Ivo
Zdarek is among the confirmed dead, as reported by the
Pakistani Prime Minister to local media and by the Czech
Embassy to us. Local media also reports that German and
Vietnamese nationals are among the confirmed dead with Saudi,
Afghan and Moroccan nationals among the injured.


3. (C) Interior Minister Rehman Malik held a press conference
at 1730 on September 21 and showed attack footage from
Marriott security cameras. The Interior Ministry plans to
release the footage to media outlets. During the press
conference, Malik stated that the Government of Pakistan
(GOP) would not require foreign assistance in the attack
investigation.


4. (C) Over thirty Embassy residences were slightly damaged
in the attack, mostly blown out windows. Mylar sheeting once
again likely prevented serious injury to staff members in
their homes at the time of the blast. Embassy assessment
teams conducted site visits on September 21 and began
repairing damaged residences.


5. (C) The GOP announced on September 21 a Rs 10 million (USD
127,795) reward for any information on the perpetrators of
the bombing. The Prime Minister held a press conference at
1400 hours local time, and announced that victims' families
would be compensated Rs 300,000 (USD 3,833) for the dead and
Rs 100,000 (USD 1,278) for the wounded.


6. (C) The exact number of private Americans at the hotel is
still not known. Post continues to work from the hotel's
three-day old guest list and is contacting all Americans
possibly at the hotel during the time of the attack. A
warden message was released at 1645 local time on September
21 advising recipients to take appropriate precautions to
ensure personal security. Contact information for Embassy
Islamabad and its constituent posts was included in the
message.


7. (C) An Embassy EAC was convened at 0900 hours (Ref A).
Mission personnel have been instructed only to travel around
the city for official business or critical needs-based
shopping. Consulates Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore held
separate EAC meetings at 1100 local time and have reported
meeting outcomes separately. Embassy Islamabad will be open
regular working hours on Monday, September 22.

PATTERSON