UPDATE ON OCTOBER 15 ATTACKS ON LAHORE SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAHORE 000230 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PTER PK SUBJECT: UPDATE ON OCTOBER 15 ATTACKS ON LAHORE SECURITY INSTALLATIONS CLASSIFIED BY: Carmela Conroy, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On October 15, 2009, extremists killed eighteen police personnel and injured over 100 in three simultaneous attacks on security installations in Lahore. The extremists had learned from previous attacks, enhancing their weapons and disguising themselves as police. Attackers appeared to be young men seeking "martyrdom." Quick reaction by the police minimized causalities and secured the facilities within five hours. Punjab police, however, still lack the resources to fight the growing terrorist threat in Pakistan's most populous province. The increasing number of extremist attacks targeting security installations and enhanced security measures within the province are depleting already limited resources. The federal government has not responded to a provincial request for more equipment and training, leaving police unable to perform routine tasks, or up their game to counter extremists. End Summary. OCTOBER 15 ATTACKS LEAVE 27 DEAD ¶2. (U) Starting around 09:30L, gunmen attacked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Regional Headquarters, the Elite Police Force Training school, and the Manawan Police Training Center (reftel A). At all three sites, police successfully fought back and killed or captured the attackers. At FIA, seven FIA personnel and two attackers died; at the Elite training facility, five attackers died; at the Manawan training center, nine police and four attackers died. Police secured all three facilities by 14:30L. RSO AND LEGATT TEAM VISIT ATTACK SITES ¶3. (C) A LEGATT Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team visited the three attack sites on October 16. The EOD team learned that attackers at the three sites were armed with AK-47 rifles fitted with grenade launchers. All were outfitted with ammunition vests and suicide jackets. Police discovered dried fruit and nuts in their vests, indicating they anticipated long sieges within the facilities. The explosive used in the suicide jackets of these attacks, potassium chlorate mixed with diesel fuel, was the same explosive found in four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered January 26 outside Lahore's Senior Superintendent Police Operations building. 
 ¶4. (C) The LEGATT team examined the remains and took DNA samples, but was unable to identify any of the attackers. Most of the attackers appear to be in their mid-20s, and all were male. One attacker, based on a physical examination, appeared to be about 15-years-old, according to Lahore Police officials. Two attackers appeared to be Uzbeks. The rest appear to be Pakistani, possibly Punjabi, judging by physical characteristics. Two of the extremists were wearing shalwar kameez, a traditional Pakistani outfit of a long, loose shirt and pants. The others were in muhafiz police uniforms consisting of a black t-shirt with "muhafiz" ("protector") in white lettering on the back, and black trousers. All attackers wore black and red headbands that said "Shariat ya Shahdat," which means "Islamic law or martyrdom." Note: Muhafiz is the patrol wing of the Lahore police. Police uniforms can be easily purchased in markets throughout Pakistan. ENHANCED TACTICS, POLICE PREPAREDNESS ¶5. (C) The extremists employed the same weaponry in the attacks on October 15 as the March attack on Manawan Police Training Center (reftel B). Attackers were armed with suicide vests, AK-47s and grenades both times. In the October attacks, extremists disguised themselves as police officers, which LAHORE 00000230 002 OF 003 provided them with easier access to facilities, and enhanced their AK-47 rifles with grenade launchers. Five attackers chose to detonate their vests in the October 15 attacks. None of the March attackers detonated their suicide devices. The March attack lasted eight-hours as extremists barricaded themselves in a single police training facility. In October the attackers divided their forces among three facilities and the Police were able to secure all three facilities within four hours. PUNJAB POLICE REQUESTS GO UNANSWERED ¶6. (C) The terrorist attacks in Lahore in 2009 to date, beginning with the March attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team through the three attacks on security installations in October, have strained the resources of the Punjab police. Following the March attack on the Manawan Police Training Center, Punjab Inspector General of Police Tariq Saleem Dogar requested USD 67 million in operational equipment, ammunition and rifles from the federal government. The requested equipment, intended to supplement existing supplies and provide additional training, included bullet proof vests, grenades, a vehicle scanner and hand guns. The federal government has not responded to this request to date. Punjab police lack proper equipment, such as ammunition and rifles, for operations, leaving little resources for training. Note: Post believes the federal government, like the provincial government, is facing a budget deficit and does not have funds available to support this request. RSO PUSHES FOR MORE TRAINING ¶7. (U) Working closely with Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Program, Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training and Assistance (ICITAP) Program, and IGP, RSO Lahore initiated training programs for the Punjab Elite Force, and, in consultation with the IGP and Punjab Home Secretary Nadeem Hassan Asif, proposed a dedicated course for Punjab's recently developed Counter Terrorism Force. RSO Lahore is working to establish a designated training group from ATA, ICITAP, and Embassy Islamabad's Narcotic Affairs Section (NAS) for the Punjab Province. Representatives from these organizations have discussed their willingness to provide "train the trainer" courses to mid-level officers to create a sustainable training platform for new police hires. These USG officials have also discussed how to provide essential equipment that Punjab Police currently lack. USG training for police in Pakistan has traditionally focused on officers from the Northwest Frontier Province with representatives from Punjab comprising between five to ten percent of the participants. RSO Lahore is working with ATA, ICITAP, NAS and the Punjab police to vet better candidates for the available training programs to increase the opportunities available to Punjab officers. COMMENT: CHANGE OF TACTICS, POLICE NEED ASSISTANCE ¶8. (C) Comment. Targeting three installations at approximately the same time, with enhanced weaponry, successful adoption of police uniforms and using suicide vests illustrate a change in tactics in Lahore. Disguised as police, extremists initially gained access to the security facilities but met fierce resistance after the attacks started. Police prevented attackers from taking control of their facilities and secured their facilities in half the time. Although the attackers changed their techniques, police were prepared to maintain control of their installations and minimize damage. However, if the Punjab Police do not receive external support for additional equipment, they will have to tap existing budgets, leaving little room for much needed counterterrorism training, and making them more vulnerable to future attacks. Improved LAHORE 00000230 003 OF 003 equipment for operations and an established training program will provide police the tools necessary to combat terrorism. Post will continue to seek ways to support the security forces that support the USG presence in the Punjab. End Comment. CONROY