SEPTEMBER SUMMARY OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001006 SIPDIS SENSITIVE 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. NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC AG SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER SUMMARY OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS ¶1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION: This cable is a summary of major security-related terrorist activities, terrorist threats, and incidents for Algeria during the month of September 2009. The information was obtained from open sources, news reports, and RSO police contacts. Press-based information should not be taken as exact or definitive but can be used to track countrywide patterns and trends. Reported activities are maintained in a master database utilized by the RSO in formulating guidelines for life safety and travel within Algeria. Please note that Algerian media frequently still refer to al- Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) by its previous name, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). End introduction. ¶2. (U) The month of September demonstrated a significant drop in the number of terrorist-related attacks and terrorist-related deaths in Algeria. Compared to 44 deaths in the month of August, only 5 security forces (to include police, military and Gendarmerie) were killed and 22 injured in a reported 37 attacks/confrontations between security forces and terrorist elements throughout the country. News reports during and at the end of September (the holy month of Ramadan) spoke of the overwhelming success of the National Popular Army?s (ANP) strategic plan to stymie high-profile terrorist attacks and avoid a repeat of the successful terrorist campaign executed during last year?s holy month celebration. According to local news sources, the governmental augmentation of security forces was directly responsible for blocking any high-profile AQIM attacks. In addition, security force casualties were primarily the result of confrontations between military forces and terrorist elements during country-wide military terrorist sweeps. These monthly operations target regions known to be terrorist safehavens, such as the forests of Sidi Bouneb (Tizi Ouzou, 64 miles east of Algiers),and Takbir (164 miles east of Algiers),the wilaya of Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),and the mountainous regions of Skikda ((138 miles east of Algiers),Setif (187 miles south east of Algiers), and Batna (271 miles south east of Algiers). ¶3. (U) Forty-seven of the above mentioned full-scale anti-terrorism operations were conducted in the month of September, resulting in 25 terrorists killed, 3 injured, 49 arrested. Additionally, a noteworthy 39 terrorists surrendered throughout the month?to include 25 active terrorists in the region of Boumerdes who were believed to have been directly associated with AQIM terrorist leader Abdelmalek Droukdal. A specific example: the Ennahar newspaper reported the surrender of Droukdal's alleged personal assistant/barber on September 27th. ¶4. (U) In addition, local news sources reported the destruction of 17 terrorist hideouts by military forces, to include hideouts in Jijel (4),Skikda (3),Boumerdes (3),Tizi Ouzou (2),Bejaia (2), Chlef (1),Annaba (1) and Tiaret (1). ¶5. (U) Twenty four roadside bombs (IEDs) were reported in September, of which 16 exploded, causing 5 deaths (4 civilians and one military officer) and 13 serious injuries (11 military officers, 2 civilians). Monthly Totals for September 2009: -------------- Security forces killed: 5 Kidnappings: 3 Roadside bombs: 16 explosions/8 diffusions False roadblocks: 2 Civilians killed: 8 Civilians injured 13: Terrorists killed: 25 Terrorists injured: 3 Terrorists surrendered: 39 ¶6. (U) Details by Category: Military/Police/Gendarmerie Casualties: -------------- -In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers),a military officer was killed in a clash between army troops and terrorists during a military operation. -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers) two military officers were killed in a confrontation with a group of terrorists, a third was the victim of a terrorist roadside bomb. -In Constantine (270 miles south east of Algiers),a policeman was found dead inside his car, a subsequent investigation identified his murder as a terrorism-related incident. Military/Police/Gendarmerie Injuries: -------------- -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers) 6 military officers were injured in a roadside bomb; 3 other policemen were injured in a subsequent terrorist shooting. -In Skikda (138 miles east of Algiers) a total of 5 soldiers were injured in September. Two soldiers were injured during clashes between terrorists of the el-Feth el-Moubine battalion and military forces; three others were injured in clashes that occurred in the Beni Meslam mountains. -In Annaba (270 miles north east of Algiers),4 soldiers were injured in a roadside bomb explosion targeting a military convoy. -In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),2 gendarmes were injured in a roadside bomb explosion. -In Chlef (130 miles south west of Algiers),a communal guard was injured during an anti-terrorist operation. -In Constantine (270 miles south east of Algiers),a communal guard was injured in a two-bomb explosion targeting a patrol of combined military forces in the municipality of Ibn Badiss. Kidnappings: -------------- -In Bouira (76 miles south east of Algiers),an entrepreneur was abducted by an armed terrorist group. This same individual was kidnapped and released in 2006 after a ransom was paid to the kidnappers (amount of ransom unknown/unreported). -In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),an individual was kidnapped by 2 unknown assailants who are alleged to be terrorists. The investigation is ongoing. -In Jijel (224 miles east of Algiers),an Algerian citizen residing in France (duel citizen) was kidnapped by an armed terrorist group. Ransom was demanded for his release (amount unknown). False Roadblocks: -------------- -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),on National Road No. No.30, a false roadblock resulted in a civilian death and two civilian injuries. -In Bouira (76 miles south east of Algiers),a false roadblock was reported on highway No.No. 5 (linking the village of Halouane with the wilaya of Bouira), but no injuries or casualties were reported. Civilian Deaths due to Terrorist Attacks: -------------- -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),3 civilians were killed during two different attacks (2 killed in a clash between security forces and terrorists who had set up a false roadblock, another civilian was killed in a second false roadblock set up by terrorists on National Road No. 30 (located in the town of Oudhias). -In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),2 civilians were killed, both victims of separate roadside bombs. -In Bouira (76 miles south east of Algiers),a civilian was killed in a terrorist shooting incident. -In Djelfa (171 miles south of Algiers),a civilian was killed in a terrorist-related shooting. -In Tebessa (396 miles east of Algiers),a civilian was killed by a roadside bomb explosion. Civilian Injuries due to Terrorist Attacks: -------------- -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),8 civilians were injured in two separate attacks; the first attack was a shooting that occurred in Azazg that wounded two individuals, the second attack was a false roadblock in which two civilians were injured. -In Boumerdes (31 miles East of Algiers),a former municipal guard was wounded in a terrorist attack that occurred in the region of Si Mustapha. -In Batna (271 miles south east of Algiers),a civilian (shepherd) was wounded in a roadside bomb explosion. -In Bouira (76 miles South East of Algiers),a civilian was injured in a roadside bomb explosion targeting a gendarmerie convoy. Military Anti-Terrorist Operations: -------------- -In Djelfa (172 miles south west of Algiers),a group of 3 terrorists were arrested during a military operation. Three Kalashnikovs and a 4x4 vehicle were also seized. The operation was conducted based on information gleaned from a fourth terrorist arrested in a previous operation. Following the arrests, security forces were reportedly able to dismantle an active terrorist support network in this wilaya. -In el-Oued (407 miles south east of Algiers),a military operation killed 3 terrorists. -In Bouira (76 miles South East of Algiers), security forces killed 3 terrorists and recovered 3 Kalashnikovs. -In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),military troops killed 2 terrorists and recovered 2 Kalashnikovs. PEARCE