TWO BOMBINGS AT LOCAL CLUBS IN ZANZIBAR TOWN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000843

SIPDIS

FOR DS/IP/AF, S/CT, CA/OCS/ACS/AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: ASEC TZ
SUBJECT: TWO BOMBINGS AT LOCAL CLUBS IN ZANZIBAR TOWN,
TANZANIA DURING EID EL HAJJ

Classified By: RSO PAUL AVALLONE FOR REASON 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (U) On Sunday, November 29, 2009 between 2200 and 2215,
explosions occurred at two nightclubs near the Stone Town
area of Zanzibar Town, Unguja Island, Tanzania. The attacks
were the first targeting nighclubs in Tanzania, but were
likely isolated incidents. The blasts were thirteen minutes
apart at the Gymkhana Club and Intro Bar during the festival
of Eid el Hajj. One person was injured in the blast, treated
at a local hospital, and subsequently released.


2. (C) RSO and A/RSO spoke with the Director of Criminal
Investigations, Mussa Ali Mussa regarding the attacks. He
stated the local population had been attempting to block the
opening of the locations because they were concerned that the
youth in the community would become corrupted by their
presence. The locals had initially attempted to block the
openings via the court system, but Tanzanian law decided in
favor of the club owners. As a preemptive measure, the
Regional Police Commissioner appeared on televesion and
appealed to the local populace to respect the holiday and not
behave inappropriately. These two clubs remained open.
Mussa believed that the additional anger associated with
drinking and dancing during the holiday was a contributing
factor to the attacks. He was uncertain if this attack was
perpetrated by an individual or group, but the proximity of
the locations made it possible that one individual could have
conducted both attacks. The Tanzanian police are actively
investigating the case and Mussa was confident they would be
able to identify and apprehend the suspect or suspects.


3. (C) Initially there was speculation that the explosive
materials used in the attacks were petrol or dynamite. Mussa
was working with Tanzanian People's Defense Force explosives
teams to try to identify the materials used but the damage
caused was indicative of something more powerful than a
typical petrol bomb. At both locations blocks were damaged
and, at the Intro Bar, two iron sheets were ripped from the
building. The investigation concluded that in each instance,
the bomb was thrown over a perimeter wall and either rolled
off the roof onto the ground outside the establishment or
landed some distance from the building mitigating the
potential for more injuries. Mussa also stated that it would
have been possible, with a well placed throw, to get the bomb
into the buildings. This revelation indicated the attacker
did not adequately plan the attacksor intended to intimidate
rather than kill.
LENHARDT