THREATS AGAINST EMBASSY SANAA AND WESTERN INTERESTS

S E C R E T SANAA 001974 NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/ICI/CR, DS/DSS/ITA, NEA/EX E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018 TAGS: ASEC PTER YM SUBJECT: THREATS AGAINST EMBASSY SANAA AND WESTERN INTERESTS REF: A. TD-314/088450-08 ¶B. 3/OO/521141-08 ¶C. 3/CO/119-08 Classified By: Ambassador Stephen Seche for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) US Embassy Sana'a has received threats against the Embassy and other Western interests in Yemen. RSO has passed all information to GRPO for follow-up. No further information has been received regarding these threats. ¶2. (S/NF) On December 5, RSO received information from a Canadian Nexen security official stating that a young male resident of Sana'a sent his parents a DVD in which he announces his intention to die as a suicide bomber. The parents reportedly passed the information to the Yemeni authorities who, also reportedly, are now searching for the man. On December 6, RSO received the man's name from the oil-company contact. The man Mohamed Eatha (phonetic translation) is, according to the oil-company contact, a known member of AQY who was conditionally released from jail a year ago. As part of his release he was to check in daily with the authorities. The security contact claims that the authorities have not heard from him since three days prior to his family receiving the DVD. No further information has been obtained at this time. ¶3. (S/NF) On December 5, the RSO received a threat via an embassy email address (ref A). The email contained Google images of the US, UK, and German embassies, and of the Sheraton, Movenpick, and Hadda Best Western Hotels. Also included was the following message, as translated by GRPO: Begin Translation To the infidel swine and their agents among the infidel police, guard force, and their employees, we will slaughter you and spill your blood throughout the streets. Allah has cursed you wherever you go. The last operation against your infernal building was but the beginning for us. We have since undertaken a new study/preparation after the last operation that seemingly failed. However, subsequent attempts will be within your grounds/houses and that of your agents among the infidel Central Security Forces and local guard force. We have observed your entrance and departure to the point where we have learned your centers and the place of your ultimate death, God willing. They are: the Sheraton hotel, the Movenpick hotel, and the Hilton hotel (Note. Likely to mean the Hadda Best Western as that was one of the Google images. End note.). We will soon begin our preparations against you utilizing the latest car bombs and brave fedayeen that will storm the U.S. Embassy, hotels, and associated locations, God willing. We will be equipped with things that you would never have expected. Know that we are coming!, We are coming! We are coming! We are coming! We are coming! C4, and this is our paradise and your hell, you infidels, leave the Arabian Peninsula. There is no place for you among us. That which you never expected, just wait, we are coming to you. You will not have to come to us, TNT, C4, C4, C4. End Translation ¶4. (S/NF) On December 6, the Embassy operator received a telephone call to the main Embassy line. The call was garbled, but the operator believed the call to be a threat largely because of the tone of the caller. A recording of the telephone call is currently being analyzed by GRPO. ¶5. (S/NF) Additional information is available in ref B and C. ¶6. (SBU) The Embassy has taken the following security precautions in light of the current and continued threats against the Embassy: - RSO requested additional host-nation security and surveillance detection assets be deployed to the Sheraton Hotel and to the Embassy residential areas, as well as coverage for Movenpick and Hadda Best Western Hotels. - The RSO issued a personal security notice to all Embassy personnel reminding them of good security practices. - The RSO met with the Movenpick, Sheraton, and Hadda Best Westerns to pass on the tear line provided by GRPO. - A Warden message will be issued to the American community to remind them of continued threats to US and Western interests. - The RSO has postponed an upcoming community out-of-town trip, and will revisit the possibility after the Eid holiday. ¶7. (U) The POC for this issue is ARSO Amanda Philpot. SECHE