Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ALGIERS105
2010-02-07 08:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

November 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND

Tags:  PTER PINS ASEC PGOV SNAR AG 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
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DE RUEHAS #0105/01 0380806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070806Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8396
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 1062
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1999
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

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