Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA464
2009-06-16 00:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S LIMOSINE RECEIVES TWO IMPACTS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000464
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019
TAGS: ASEC HO PGOV PREL SOCI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S LIMOSINE RECEIVES TWO IMPACTS
TO WINDSHIELD - ATTACK DISCOUNTED - MOST LIKELY ROCKS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reason 1.4 (b & d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000464
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019
TAGS: ASEC HO PGOV PREL SOCI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S LIMOSINE RECEIVES TWO IMPACTS
TO WINDSHIELD - ATTACK DISCOUNTED - MOST LIKELY ROCKS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reason 1.4 (b & d)
1. (C) In the evening of June 12, local media reported a
possible attack against President Manual "Mel" Zelaya after
the front windshield of the motorcade vehicle in which he was
riding in Tegucigalpa received two impacts from objects of
unknown origin. The unknown objects cracked the windshield
but did not shatter it or penetrate to the interior of the
vehicle. The incident occurred while the motorcade,
consisting of two lead motorcycles, a lead security vehicle,
Zelaya's limousine (an unarmored Lexus SUV) and a follow
security vehicle, were on their way to the airport via
Tegucigalpa's outer ring highway in the vicinity of the El
Loarque neighborhood. Immediately after Zelaya's vehicle was
impacted by the unknown objects, all the vehicles in the
motorcade came to a stop on the highway and President Zelaya
and his security personnel got out of their vehicles to
inspect the damage. Police responded to the location to
investigate as did the press. President Zelaya remained at
the scene for some time afterwards where he responded to
questions from the press about the incident.
2. (C) While the press at first sensationalized reports of
the incident, President Zelaya quickly downplayed it in a
series of interviews. The president, his chief-of-staff, and
Security Minister Jorge Rodas later told the Ambassador that
the impacts were most likely caused by rocks, not bullets.
3. (C) On June 15, National Police Director General Saloman
de Jesus Escoto Salinas told the RSO that the impacts to
President Zelaya's vehicle were not caused by bullet strikes
or by someone throwing objects at the vehicle, but were
likely caused by rocks kicked-up by the lead vehicle in the
motorcade which impacted the President's vehicle following
directly behind it.
4. (U) The press criticized the response of President
Zelaya's security for stopping and remaining on the scene
with President Zelaya, as well as Security Ministry Rodas for
admitting to the press that the President's vehicle was not
armored.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019
TAGS: ASEC HO PGOV PREL SOCI
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S LIMOSINE RECEIVES TWO IMPACTS
TO WINDSHIELD - ATTACK DISCOUNTED - MOST LIKELY ROCKS
REF: TEGUCIGALPA
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reason 1.4 (b & d)
1. (C) In the evening of June 12, local media reported a
possible attack against President Manual "Mel" Zelaya after
the front windshield of the motorcade vehicle in which he was
riding in Tegucigalpa received two impacts from objects of
unknown origin. The unknown objects cracked the windshield
but did not shatter it or penetrate to the interior of the
vehicle. The incident occurred while the motorcade,
consisting of two lead motorcycles, a lead security vehicle,
Zelaya's limousine (an unarmored Lexus SUV) and a follow
security vehicle, were on their way to the airport via
Tegucigalpa's outer ring highway in the vicinity of the El
Loarque neighborhood. Immediately after Zelaya's vehicle was
impacted by the unknown objects, all the vehicles in the
motorcade came to a stop on the highway and President Zelaya
and his security personnel got out of their vehicles to
inspect the damage. Police responded to the location to
investigate as did the press. President Zelaya remained at
the scene for some time afterwards where he responded to
questions from the press about the incident.
2. (C) While the press at first sensationalized reports of
the incident, President Zelaya quickly downplayed it in a
series of interviews. The president, his chief-of-staff, and
Security Minister Jorge Rodas later told the Ambassador that
the impacts were most likely caused by rocks, not bullets.
3. (C) On June 15, National Police Director General Saloman
de Jesus Escoto Salinas told the RSO that the impacts to
President Zelaya's vehicle were not caused by bullet strikes
or by someone throwing objects at the vehicle, but were
likely caused by rocks kicked-up by the lead vehicle in the
motorcade which impacted the President's vehicle following
directly behind it.
4. (U) The press criticized the response of President
Zelaya's security for stopping and remaining on the scene
with President Zelaya, as well as Security Ministry Rodas for
admitting to the press that the President's vehicle was not
armored.
LLORENS