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