MEDIA OVERSTATES TERRORIST THREAT TO EMBASSY DHAKA

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001025 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA-SCA, DS/TIA, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/TIA/CC, DS/TIA/PII, SCA/INSB, SCA/FO E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2019 TAGS: ASEC PTER PROV PREL PINR PINS PHUM BG SUBJECT: MEDIA OVERSTATES TERRORIST THREAT TO EMBASSY DHAKA FOLLOWING CHITTAGONG ARRESTS REF: A. DHAKA 980 ¶B. DHAKA 981 ¶C. IIR 4 201 0273 10 DTG 140023Z ¶D. IIR 4 201 0253 10 DTG 102212Z ¶E. IIR 4 201 0321 10 DTG 171846Z ¶F. IIR 4 201 0321 10 DTG 151941Z ¶G. DHAKA 984 Classified By: ACTING DCM JON F. DANILOWICZ, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d ) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) Local press and wire services gave widespread coverage to the November 6 arrest of three alleged members of the international terrorist group Lashkar-e-Teiyeba who were reportedly planning to attack Embassy Dhaka. More sensationalist reports suggested the suspects had planned to hijack a Hajj flight or attack diplomatic missions in India. Our subsequent discussions with police and liaison agencies did not substantiate the reported threats, although initial traces indicate those arrested have some linkages to extremist groups. The incident has provided insights into the functioning of both the Prime Minister's Office and Bangladesh's security apparatus, confirming our perception that government agencies do not effectively coordinate on security matters. POLICE MAKE ARRESTS -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Monirul Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Police and part of Dhaka's Detective Branch - South Division, told the Assistant Regional Security Officer November 8 that police had arrested three individuals in Chittagong as part of an ongoing investigation. Upon receipt of threat information passed by the Embassy at that time (Ref A-G),the Bangladesh authorities initiated an investigation. The police, based on a tip from an informant and subsequent phone-link analysis, focused attention on three individuals in Chittagong. Islam said the three were being held "under general suspicion." While police will request permission to hold the suspects longer, Islam said he believed they will be released for lack of hard evidence. The police did not provide any information to substantiate press reports of a plot to attack the embassy. We will follow up with the police as they continue to interview the suspects and exploit other information obtained in the raid. LACK OF COMMUNICATION -------------- ¶3. (S) We welcomed the news that the Government of Bangladesh had opened an investigation following the initial threat reporting we shared with them. At the same time, this episode has further revealed the lack of communication between Bangladesh's security agencies. Agency after agency looked back at us with blank stares when we asked them about the press reporting. They were not withholding information, rather, they did not know. The Prime Minister's security advisor told us he thought the police had acted "on a hunch." Even though the case had been on the front-pages of Bangladesh's newspapers for two days, when the Ambassador asked Major General Mollah Fazle Akbar, the Director-General of Forces Intelligence, about the case on November 8, Akbar knew nothing and displayed obvious embarrassment. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (S) This incident also illustrates the nervousness the senior levels of the Government of Bangladesh feels about a potential significant terrorist attack. They are ready to sweep-up and arrest people on sparse evidence. A number of groups, including Lashkar-e-Teiyeba, who previously had space to operate within Bangladesh may now be feeling squeezed and DHAKA 00001025 002 OF 002 could lash out. We do not see a specific threat associated with these arrests, but we need to keep a watchful eye. This also points to the continued need to help build host country counter-terrorist capability. MORIARTY