November 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000105 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS, DS/DSS, SDERCC, S/CT, S/ES-O, DS/ICI/PII, DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/FPO, NEA/EX. NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC PGOV SNAR AG SUBJECT: November 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND SIGNIFICANT SECURITY INCIDENTS REFS: A) Algiers 01157 B) Algiers 00992 ¶1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION: This cable is a summary of major security-related activities, terrorist threats, and incidents for Algeria during the month of November 2009. The information was obtained from open sources, news reports, and RSO police contacts. Press-based information should not be taken as exact or definitive but can be used to track countrywide patterns and trends. Reported activities are maintained in a master database utilized by the RSO in formulating guidelines for life safety and travel within Algeria. Please note that Algerian media frequently still refer to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) by its previous name, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). End introduction. ¶2. (U) Terrorist-specific trends: During the month of November, Algerian security forces engaged in 17 conflicts with terrorist elements throughout the country. This resulted in eight deaths and 21 injuries (to include military and gendarmerie forces). Seventeen bombs, nine of which were defused, were reported in the month of November and resulted in a soldier's death and 18 serious injuries (eight military officers, five gendarmes, and five civilians). ¶3. (SBU) Suicide bombers successfully infiltrated Algiers in the month of November. On November 3, RSO Algiers was informed by local police contacts of the capture of a suicide bomber (the suspect was arrested on or about November 1). Police reported that the suspect had been wearing a suicide vest and had been tasered and captured just three miles from the American Embassy. Under interrogation, the suspect admitted to an accomplice -- a second suicide bomber who was still at large in the city. The second suspect Abdelkrim Arfiche (aka Abou Mouaad),was believed to have successfully fled the city soon after the planned attack was disrupted, despite a city-wide man hunt for his capture and arrest (ALGIERS REF B). ¶4. (U) Monthly statistics for November, 2009, are as follows: Security forces killed: 8 Security forces injured: 21 Kidnappings: 3 Bombs: 17 (8 defused prior to detonation) False road blocks: 0 Civilians killed: 1 Civilians injured: 5 Terrorists killed: 23 Terrorists injured: 2 Terrorists arrested: 29 ¶5. (U) DETAILS: Below please find detailed local news reports of select terrorist/security-related incidents throughout the month of November. November 01: - In Constantine (270 miles southeast of Algiers),a Gendarme was killed and three military members were injured in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint in Ibn Badis in Constantine. - In Tebessa (396 southeast of Algiers),a weapons trafficking network was dismantled and 13 members were arrested. Numerous weapons and ammunition were recovered. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),a homemade bomb was defused in the village of Chrea Draa el-Mizan. - In Djelfa (171 miles south of Algiers),the Gendarmerie Nationale dismantled an arms trafficking network and seizedten hunting guns. November 02: - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),security forces killed a terrorist and recovered a Kalashnikov rifle and a pair of binoculars. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),three remote- controlled IEDs were defused in the pathway of the Mizrana forest during a military operation. - In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers),the Gendarmerie seized nine kilos of hashish. - In Oran (270 miles west of Algiers),coast guards of Beni Saf recovered one kilo of cannabis in Ain Timouchent. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),an IED seriously injured three military members during a security operation. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),a remote controlled IED seriously injured two Gendarmes. November 03: - In Boumerdes (31 east of Algiers),Algerian troops killed two terrorists and confiscated two Kalashnikov rifles. - In Boumerdes (31 east of Algiers) , Algerian security forces defused three roadside bombs in the forest of Mizrana, considered one of the main strongholds of terrorists groups in Boumerdes. November 04: - In Algiers, the Gendarmerie in Eucalyptus dismantled a drug ring. - In Jijel (224 miles east of Algiers),a bomb explosion injured a military officer. November 05: - In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers),the GSPC "Emir" Ghazi Toufik, alias "Tahar," was reportedly killed during clashes with Algerian military forces. He was reportedly one of AQIM leader Droukdal's personal guards. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),two suspected terrorists were killed in a military operation. - In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers),a suspected terrorist was killed in Remila during a military ambush. November 06: - In Chlef (130 miles southeast of Algiers),Gendarmerie patrolling the shores in the area of Sidi Boukheffa found 30 kilos of hashish. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),the chief of GSPC's "Council of Notables" Moubarak Yazid, also known as "Abou Oubaida al-Annabi, was reported as being seriously injured in an ambush conducted by the ANP in Bouzguene, Tizi Ouzou. Three other suspected terrorists were killed in the same operation. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east from Algiers),a bomb exploded in the forest of Draa el-Mizan. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),a military officer was killed in a bomb blast. An EOD squad was sent to de-mine the area, which seemed to serve as a homemade bomb repository of the GSPC's Ansar terrorist faction. - In Oum El Bouaghi (312 miles east of Algiers),the Gendarmerie Nationale dismantled a weapons trafficking network. One person was arrested in possession of a Beretta pistol. November 07: - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles East of Algiers),military forces bombed what they believed to be the hideout of terrorist leader Si Mohamed Ouremdan, alias "Mouh el-Kechkach." November 08: - In Bejaia (164 east of Algiers),a 50-year-old woman was kidnapped by suspected terrorists but released unharmed two hours later. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),Akli Mazari, alias Abou Sofiane, "Emir" of Saryate Sidi Ali Bounab and suspected sponsor of kidnappings and false checkpoints, was killed in Tizi Ouzou. He was believed to be an important chief of the terrorist organization GSPC. November 09: - In Algiers city, 15 kilos of cannabis and 20 grams of heroin were seized in the city center. - In Blida (31 miles southwest of Algiers),four kilos of hashish were seized and one man arrested. November 10: - In Tlemcen (362 west of Algiers),146 kilos of hashish were seized in Bounaim. The traffickers abandoned their vehicles after they were spotted by customs officers. - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),security forces reported the killing of Abu Abdessamie, leader of "Katibet Ennour," in an ambush. Abu Abdessamie reportedly joined the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) in 2000. November 11: - In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers),suspected terrorists targeted a military patrol in Ouled Aissa. Two officers were killed and five seriously injured. November 12: - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),two citizens were injured in a roadside bomb explosion. - In Algiers, members of an international network of car traffickers between France and Algeria were arrested. - In Tlemcen (362 west of Algiers),the Gendarmerie Nationale seized 146 kg of hashish, but no arrests were reported. November 13: - In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers),five military members were injured by an IED explosion while on patrol. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),two terrorist support networks were dismantled in the locality of Naciria. - In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers),a civilian and a military officer were injured after an IED explosion. Two other IED?s were defused. November 14: - In Algiers city, three members of a terrorist financial support network were arrested. Two of the suspected terrorists were located in Baraki and Sidi Moussa. - In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers),a terrorist support network was dismantled and five suspects arrested following a tip given by Abou Slimane, a 28-year-old suspected terrorist who was arrested by security forces. November 15: - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),security forces killed 22-year-old suspected GSPC terrorist Amrouche Yahia and recovered a weapon. - In Oran (370 miles west of Algiers),300 bricks of cannabis were seized on National Road RN7 between Ghazaouate and Maghnia, and one person was arrested. November 16: - In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers),Police arrested five people involved in a prostitution ring. - In Algiers city, millions of dollars were lost by the Egyptian telecommunications company Djezzy after acts of vandalism that targeted its storefronts nationwide. - In Ain Defla (91 miles southwest of Algiers),a hotel hosting Egyptian employees of Elsweedy cable company and a local mob attacked a branch of Djezzy. November 17: - In Oran (270 miles of Algiers),the coast guard intercepted 12 illegal immigrants. A total of 38 individuals were arrested within three days in Oran for illegal immigration. - In Tlemcen (362 miles of Algiers),the Gendarmerie opened fire on two drug traffickers who tried to evade the checkpoint. One drug trafficker was killed, and the other escaped. Eighty-eight kilos of hashish were recovered in this operation. - In Illizi (1162 miles south of Algiers),the Gendarmerie Nationale arrested 113 illegal immigrants from different African countries. - In Tlemcen (362 miles west of Algiers),two Algerians working for the Egyptian company "Power Ring" were arrested for illegal possession of three kilos of white mercury, used to manufacture explosives or to counterfeit currency. November 18: - In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers),three communal guards were wounded in a bomb explosion. The bomb was placed in the railway, targeting a freight train that passed a few minutes before the explosion. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),security services dismantled a terrorist support network consisting of nine people belonging to "Katibet el-Ansar" and "el-Arkam." November 19: - In Medea (59 miles south of Algiers),terrorists assassinated two communal guards before fleeing into the Mekournou Mountains. - In Batna (271 miles southeast of Algiers),two terrorists were killed and two Kalashnikov rifles seized. - In Algiers, the Gendarmerie reported the seizure of 3.5 tons of cannabis during a drug raid. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),military forces killed a terrorist in Ouled al-Hussein in Zemourri. - In Algiers city, the court acquitted Terari Mohamed and Abdelli Faghoul, former Guantanamo prisoners. They had been charged with close association with a foreign terrorist group. They denied these charges but admitted to being involved in drug trafficking while residing in Germany. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),two private security guards were injured in a bomb explosion. November 20: - In Algiers, Police arrested two terrorists from the "al- Fath" battalion in Bache Jarah. The terrorists took advantage of the festive atmosphere following Algeria's World Cup qualification to visit their families in Bache Jarah, where they were arrested. - In Algiers, six terrorist suspects were presented to the court of el-Harrach. The group was acting under the leadership of "al-Fath" battalion. - The Algerian Civil Protection Agency revealed that at least 18 Algerians died in various accidents following the football match between Algeria and Egypt. November 21: - In Algiers, the Gendarmerie reported the confiscation of 49 different types of weapons and 241 cartridges of ammunition. - In Blida (31 miles southwest of Algiers,) a 20-year-old female was arrested after she was caught passing counterfeit 1000 DA banknotes. November 22: - In Algiers, the Gendarmerie Nationale reported the arrest of at least 23 minors in the past ten months who were reportedly involved in arms and explosives trafficking for the GSPC. - In Ain Defla (91 miles southwest of Algiers),during a major operation conducted by combined security forces, one terrorist was killed and another captured. November 23: - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),security sources reported that nine terrorist "emirs" were killed, among them Ben Tatraoui Omar, also known as "Yahiya Abou Khouthayma." November 24: - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),security forces killed a terrorist and recovered one weapon. November 27: - In Ghardaia (397 miles south of Algiers),the Judicial Police arrested six people in a registration card counterfeiting network. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),three terrorists and a soldier were killed during a full-scale operation launched by the Algerian army. Several Kalashnikov rifles were recovered. November 28: - In Biskra (265 miles southeast of Algiers),two kilos of hashish were seized. The investigation is ongoing. - In Constantine (270 miles southeast of Algiers),two terrorists were killed when security forces stormed their hideout. November 29: - In Oran (270 miles west of Algiers),5.5 kg of kif were seized in Arzew. One person was arrested in this operation. November 30: - Algiers: Security services reported the dismantling of three terrorist support networks. Seven individuals were arrested when authorities received information from the father of a 24-year-old terrorist and from a former AQIM member. - In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers),inhabitants of Bordj Menail blocked National Route 12 linking Algiers to Tizi Ouzou to demand the restoration and repair of the road connecting their village to the capital of the municipality. - In Bord Bou Ariridj (136 miles southeast of Algiers), hundreds of people blocked National Route 5 over poor living conditions. PEARCE