UPDATE: THREAT TO US EMBASSY PRETORIA

S E C R E T PRETORIA 001943 NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR DS/DSS, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, P, M. CA, S/CT AND INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2019 TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER SA SUBJECT: UPDATE: THREAT TO US EMBASSY PRETORIA REF: A) 1930 AND B) 1939 Classified By: RSO VIDA GECAS FOR REASON 1.4 B, C and D ¶1. (SBU) Post's EAC comprised of AMB, A/DCM, RSO, DAO, ORI, ECON, POL, PAO, MGT and CONS met to discuss the threat and Post actions detailed in reftels A and B. ¶2. (S/NF) On September 23, 2009, RSO and ORI received information from the South African Police Service (SAPS) that SAPS officers, in coordination with the South African National Intelligence Agency, located the cell phone that was used to place calls to the leader of the Somali based extremist group, El-Shabab. The cell phone is in the possession of an unidentified male in the Cape Town area. SAPS currently has the unidentified subject and cell phone under physical and technical surveillance. SAPS will provide updates as they become available to RSO and ORI. ¶3. (SBU) The EAC determined that since the unidentified male and the cell phone will remain under surveillance, the Mission can resume normal working hours on Friday, September 25, 2009 albeit at a heightened state of alert. SAPS will continue to provide a visible and static presence at the Chancery in Pretoria and the consulates in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. ¶4. (SBU) CONS updated the warden notice and RSO sent out an updated security notice to reflect the reopening of regular business hours. The Ambassador will hold a town hall meeting on Friday to discuss Post security posture which includes the option of staggered arrival and departure times of all staff and general personal security measures. GIPS