LAHORE ARRESTS

S E C R E T LAHORE 000026 DEPT FOR DS/IP/SCA, RSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/19/2020 TAGS: ASEC PTER PREL AMGT CASC PK SUBJECT: LAHORE ARRESTS REF: LAHORE CABLE 000019 CLASSIFIED BY: Carmela Conroy, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Lahore, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On February 8 Punjab Police held a press conference to announce they had arrested six Pakistani men on suspicion they were planning to attack the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. The men reportedly intended to target U.S. Nationals. The RSO and CG reviewed the current security situation in Lahore and agreed that the established RSO security procedures were commensurate with current threat evaluations. ¶2. (S) RAO reporting on this topic shows that the suspects were arrested in early January of 2010 by Pakistani Intelligence elements. The suspects were turned over to the Punjab Police on February 8, and the police announced they had arrested them. ¶3. (SBU) USCONGEN Lahore had convened an EAC on February 5 and reviewed current and approved security procedures, reftel Lahore cable #000019. The RSO also reinforced security measures during the weekly staff meeting on February 9. All ConGen Lahore personnel have cell phones, and can receive RSO alerts via text message. All TDY staff and guests will receive cell phones and a security briefing on arrival at post. ¶4. (SBU) There are NO/NO chief of mission staff at the Pearl Continental Hotel. The Avari Hotel remains the main public RSO approved overnight location at present time. Post policy is that COM TDYers/guests be assigned primarily to post-provided TDY housing, only secondarily to non-USG provided housing. The RSO recently reviewed the Avari and reconfirmed its security meets DS requirements. ¶5. (U) RSO will continue to monitor the security situation and reevaluate the security posture in order to provide current security guidance to ConGen staff and to the American and business community. Additionally, RSO will ensure guidance and information provided is commensurate with any changes to the security situation in Lahore. RSO will assist the FBI in its investigation relating to the threat against U.S. Citizens overseas. ¶6. (U) Point of contact at post is RSO Timothy Grady. CONROY