AUGUST 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001007

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: AUGUST 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND
SIGNIFICANT SECURITY INCIDENTS

REFS: A) Algiers 00605
B) Algiers 00667


1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION: This cable is a summary of
major security-related activities, terrorist
threats, and incidents for Algeria during the month
of August 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) Terrorist-specific trends: With 44 deaths,
August was the second deadliest month thus far in
2009 for security forces in Algeria (surpassed only
by 66 security force deaths in June). As a possible
indication of the heightened level of security
during the holy month of Ramadan, security forces
exceeded all other months this year in the number of
terrorists killed (90)during full-scale operations
throughout the country, most notably in Tizi Ouzou
(64 miles east of Algiers) and Jijel (224 miles east
of Algiers). In the city of Algiers, a bomb was
discovered on August 29 behind a public bus stop,
and a member of the "el-Fatah" battalion was
arrested.

The Kabylie region (which includes the wilayas of
Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Bouira, Bordj Bou
Arreridj, as well as the mountainous areas of Jijel,
M?Sila, Medea, and Setif) continues to be the most
dynamic area in terms of AQIM activities and host
government actions. Algerian police expressed
concern and surprise regarding the successful AQIM
operation in the Tipaza wilaya (located just west of
the capital city) that occurred in late July but for
which AQIM claimed responsibility in early August.

3.(U) Civil Unrest/Riot: The Annaba region of
Algeria experienced two significant protests this
month in response to severe flooding and consistent
power outages/blackouts that plagued the region
throughout the summer.

The first protest reported on August 5th targeted the
local utilities company Sonelgaz. Protestors
managed to completely block Route RN44, a roadway
connecting Annaba to El Tarf via the Rabah Bitat
airport. The second protest reported on August 25
involved over one-hundred separate demonstrations
throughout the region?s cities to include Oued
Forche, Ausas Val Mascort, Seybouse, and others.
Throughout a period of 24 hours, protestors flooded
the streets, setting old tree trunks and tires
ablaze throughout the day and night.

Monthly statistics are as follows:

Bombings: 18
Civilian deaths: 9
Wounded Security force members: 15
Kidnappings: 5
Terrorists arrested/surrendered: 36
False roadblocks: 1
Armed robberies: 3
Protests/Riots: 3


3. (U) DETAILS: Below please find detailed local
news reports of select terrorist/security-related
incidents throughout the month of August.

August 01:
- A statement attributed to the media committee of
al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and
published by al-Fajr Media Center was posted
claiming responsibility for an attack on an Algerian
army (ANP) convoy "on the state road connecting
Damous and el-Abadia, exactly north of the Beni

Mileuk municipality (Tipaza Province)." The attack
was led by Shaykh Abi-Tamam Abdal Hafiz and resulted
in the deaths of at least 15 soldiers (see Algiers
00770).
- The ANP killed 15 terrorists during an air raid
that targeted terrorist hideouts in the mountains of
Batna. This operation took place in the following
regions: Kimel, Taffrante, Zwaye in Arisse, and the
forest of Lareba, in the southeast of the wilaya of
Batna.
- The ANP, along with communal guards, conducted a
search operation in the forest area that borders the
wilayas of Bejaia and Bordj Bou-Arreridj. During
the operation, troops succeeded in killing the
alleged mastermind of the ambush against the
gendarmerie in Bordj Bou-Arreridj on June 17 (see
Algiers 00667).

August 03:
- The ANP killed eight terrorists in the mountains
of Chelala, in the communities of Oudi el-Mah,
Merouana, and Seryana during an air raid.

- The ANP killed two terrorists and recovered two
weapons (Kalashnikovs) during a military operation
through the forests of Timzirte and Yassre. The
army was searching for a terrorist support network
in the municipality of Timzirte.

August 05:
- In the municipality of Beni Amrane, in the south
of the wilaya of Boumerdes (31 miles from Algiers),
the ANP surrounded 16 terrorists from Katibat el-
Djerrah after demolishing their hideouts. This
military operation took place after a sweep of the
forest of Oued Djenane in Beni Amrane. One of the
most important terrorist hideouts was destroyed.

- In the mountainous region combining Mechatte and
Beni Forkane in Mila and Ouled Boufaha in Jijel (224
miles east of Algiers),the ANP destroyed several
hideouts that were used by armed terrorist groups
that continue to be active in those regions and
defused several bombs created by the salafist
terrorists.

-After an entire summer plagued with frequent
blackouts and power outages, hundreds of Algerians
in Seybouse (approximately five miles from the
capital of Annaba) took to the streets to protest
the local electric company Sonelgaz. Protestors
managed to gridlock RN44, a roadway connecting
Annaba to el-Tarf via Rabah Bitat airport.

August 07:
- Security forces killed a terrorist during an
ambush in the village of Mazer, near the
municipality of Mizrana, about 30 kilometers
northeast of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east
of Algiers). Additionally, four terrorists were
killed in Ait Melloul between the municipalities of
Boukhelifa and Tichy, about 15 kilometers east of
the wilaya of Bejaia. The Kalashnikovs of these four
terrorists were recovered. A soldier was killed in
the ambush.

August 08:
- The ANP destroyed two terrorist shelters of the
terrorists still active in the region. In addition,
two charred terrorists corpses were found after an
air bombing in the mountains of a region called
Koufi, in Beni Zayde, west of Skikda.

- Two soldiers were killed and four injured in the
explosion of a bomb at the east entrance of Swanine
in the municipality of Sidi Daoud.

August 09:
- Security forces in the village of Ait Ouabane in
the municipality of Akbil, located some 60
kilometers southeast of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64
miles east of Algiers),surrounded a major terrorist
group composed of at least a dozen armed Islamists.
The armed Islamists were discovered in their
hideouts after an intense air raid that had targeted

the suspected area.

August 10:
- The residents of Mechtrasse, located 40 kilometers
to the south of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64 miles
east of Algiers),stopped an attempted carjacking in
Ihessnawene on the road that leads to the
municipality of Souk Itnine. The attack occurred on
Friday evening, when a terrorist group composed of
three persons blocked the path of the car by using
weapons. A group of over 20 young people stopped
the attempt.
August 11:
- AQIM leader Abdel Malek Droudkel held a meeting
with the emirs of AQIM katibas (variously translated
as either brigades or battalions) in the forest of
Akefadou, situated between the wilaya of Jijel and
Bejaia, to draw up new attack plans for Ramadan

2009. Similar meetings occurred in Boumerdes prior
to Ramadan in 2007 and 2008.

- In the municipality of Ben Choud, east of the
wilaya of Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),
negotiations continued between terrorists and the
family of a 27-year-old man kidnapped at the
beginning of August. The terrorists demanded a
ransom of one billion dinars (about USD 14 million)
for his release.

- The explosion of a bomb in the Sidi Massmoudi
region(265 miles east of Algiers) in the
municipality of Mazara killed two soldiers. This
explosion happened during a military operation.

August 12:
- Three Algerians were added to Great Britain?s
"Most Wanted" terrorist list compiled by federal
government officials. One of the three additions,
the Algerian terrorist Abide Hamadou, alias Abou
Zayd, is being held responsible for the murder of
British hostage Edwin Dwyer. Additionally, U.S.
officials have added three international terrorism
suspects -- two Algerians and one Mauritanian -- to
their terrorist watch list: Hamadou Abide Abdel
Hamid Abu Zaid, alias Bilel from Djelfa (Algerian);
Amour alias Ilyes Haythem (Algerian); and Abou
Abderrahmane Etandaghi Annesse Echankiti
(Mauritanian).

August 15:
- Security forces recovered a large quantity of
weapons, explosives, and a considerable quantity of
chemicals in a hideout discovered in Berraki,
situated 30 miles east of Algiers.

- Two communal guards were killed and two others
seriously injured in the explosion of two bombs in
the municipality of Babors, north of the town of
Setif (187 miles east of Algiers). The terrorist
attack targeted communal surveillance guards in the
region of Babors.

- The explosion of a bomb in Tigzirt (64 miles east
of Algiers),killed one gendarme and seriously
injured two others. The bomb was remotely operated
by a group of armed terrorists.

August 16:
- In the mountains of Babour, in Setif province (187
miles southeast of Algiers) five communal guards
were attacked in an ambush in the region of Chorfa.
Two guards were killed and three injured.

- An armed confrontation took place west of Ain-
Defla, (91 miles southwest of Algiers) between
military forces and armed terrorists. Three
terrorists were killed.

August 17:
- An AQIM communique claimed responsibility for the
August 8 suicide attack against the French embassy
in Nouakchott.

August 19:
- Armed bandits driving a white Renault Clio

carjacked a couple in a Toyota Hilux in Cheraga
(seven miles east of central Algiers). The armed
men forced the victims out by gunpoint and
threatened to kill them if they reported the attack
to local police.

August 23:
- Security forces arrested one of the most dangerous
terrorists (on Algeria's "Wanted" list for 14
years)in the town of Dar el-Beida. Security forces
arrested this terrorist, part of the el-Fatah
battalion, in possession of falsified documents
meant to establish a false identity.

August 24:
- The "Salafist group" for Skikda received orders
from AQIM leader Droukdel to perform suicide attacks
targeting the ANP. The orders reportedly included
information that the first suicide bomber would be
the 12-year-old son of the group?s previous emir.

- A gendarme was killed and his brigade commander
seriously wounded yesterday morning by a bomb in the
municipality of Tarek Ibn Ziad in Ain Tanout (91
miles southwest of Algiers). The bomb was placed
under a dead corpse discovered recently and exploded
as a gendarme and his brigade commander approached
the body.

August 25:
- A policeman and two gendarmes were killed in a
terrorist attack in Tarik Bnou Ziad. The terrorist
group shot the policeman and then exploded a
homemade bomb when the gendarmes responded to the
scene.

- A 25-year-old tradesman was kidnapped in the
municipality of Beni Douala (64 miles east of
Algiers) after being forced to stop at a fake road.
His vehicle was recovered one hour after. The
terrorist group demanded 3 billion dinars
(approximately USD 42,134,831 million) in ransom.

- The ANP killed two terrorists during a military
operation in the mountains of Tibourbaz (51 miles
east of Algiers).

- A massive protest numbering 108 separate
demonstrations erupted across Annaba (375 miles east
of Algiers),including the participation of the
following cities: Oued Forche, Ausas Val Mascort,
Seybouse, Column, Bourmet el-Gas, Sidi Harb
1,2,3,and 4, and Faklharine el-Hocine Bouzered.
Throughout a period of 24 hours, protestors burned
old tree trunks and tires and took to the streets to
protest the government?s lack of assistance in the
wake of severe regional flooding.

August 26:
- ANP troops killed two terrorists in a military
operation, in the mountains of Tikirbaze (76 miles
southeast of Algiers). The security forces arrested
five other terrorists who surrendered.

August 28:
- Security forces dismantled a terrorist support
network in the municipality of Yessr (31 miles east
of Algiers). The network is composed of eight
individuals suspected of giving terrorist
information concerning the movements of security
forces.

- Security forces in Derrah el-Mizan (64 miles east
of Algiers) dismantled a two-person terrorist
support network. The family members were aiding
terrorists by giving them food, munitions, and
information on security forces' movements in the
aforementioned region.

August 29:
- The employees of the company Netcom found a bomb
in the garden at a bus station (Tafourah) in
Algiers. Employees of the company found a "hard
object," powder, electrical wires, and mobile
phones. The material was recovered, defused, and

transported by the police to the Chateauneuf
laboratory for further examination.

- A terrorist attack in Merros (176 miles southwest
of Algiers) caused the death of two soldiers and one
pedestrian when a homemade bomb that had been hidden
inside the soldier?s car exploded.

August 30:
- Two terrorists were killed by Security forces in
the municipality of Corso. A soldier was seriously
injured in the clash, and two automatic weapons were
recovered.

- An unidentified terrorist group kidnapped a
contractor in the village of Kadiria (76 miles
southeast of Algiers).

- Two soldiers were killed in Bordj el-Emir
Abdelkader (59 miles south of Algiers). The last
terrorist attack in this city occurred three years
ago when two policemen were killed.


PEARCE