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