BOMB BLAST IN PUNE: SUSPECTED TERRORIST ATTACK, NO AMERICAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MUMBAI 000053 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PTER IN SUBJECT: BOMB BLAST IN PUNE: SUSPECTED TERRORIST ATTACK, NO AMERICAN CASUALTIES MUMBAI 00000053 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: At around 7:15 pm on February 13, a bomb exploded in a restaurant often frequented by foreigners in Pune city, about three hours by road southeast of Mumbai, in an apparent terrorist attack. Indian officials have confirmed nine deaths, including at least one foreigner, with over 55 injured. So far, no Americans are reported hurt or killed; American Citizen Services and Regional Security Office teams are on the ground. The Embassy held a core EAC meeting and issued a mission-wide message and Warden Message. Consulate Mumbai has also held an EAC (septel). ¶2. (SBU) Indian officials told Congenoffs that links to the domestic terrorist group Indian Mujahedeen are "speculative," and that there are no suspects yet in the case. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram cautioned against speculation until the investigation is complete. While Maharashtra state police are leading the investigation, the Home Minister appears to be asserting national authority over the investigation and its public portrayal, having quickly appeared on the scene in Pune and insisted on coordination among national law enforcement bodies. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Roemer contacted the Home Minister shortly after the blast to express his condolences and offer appropriate assistance. GOI law enforcement authorities are considering Legatt's offer of technical assistance. There is media speculation that the blast was timed to coincide with the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Krishna has been quoted in the press as agreeing that this attack by as-yet unidentified perpetrators is designed to hurt prospects for the talks. In the first major terrorist incident since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the central government will likely aim to overcome the lethargy that characterized its reaction to that crisis. There are no signs yet that the GOI is backtracking from the talks. End Summary. Bomb Blast in Pune Restaurant, but no American Casualties -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) At approximately 7:15 pm on Saturday, February 13, a single blast occurred at a restaurant in Pune city, about three hours southeast of Mumbai. Police claim that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed in a bag. The restaurant, the German Bakery, is a favorite with Pune-based foreigners, and is within 200 meters of the Osho Ashram, where many foreigners reside, and Chabad House, an orthodox Jewish community center. (Note: The Mumbai Chabad House was targeted in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. End Note.) Indian authorities have confirmed nine dead, and over 57 injured. So far, there are no reports of Americans killed or injured; American Citizen Services and Regional Security Office teams are on the ground. The Embassy held a core EAC meeting and issued a mission-wide message and Warden Message. Consulate Mumbai has also held an EAC (septel). Most of the killed and injured appear to be Indian nationals. The GOI has not made any official determination of the nationality of those killed in the blast. However, RSO and Consular teams in Pune state that there is at least one foreigner among the dead. Indian Government Claims Bomb was Terrorist Attack, But Perpetrators Unknown -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Maharashtra state authorities quickly concluded that MUMBAI 00000053 002.2 OF 003 the bombing was a terrorist attack targeted at foreigners in Pune. Press reports initially linked the blasts with the domestic terrorist group Indian Mujahedeen (IM). However, Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy told the Consul General that reports of IM involvement were "speculative," and that there are so far no suspects in the bombing. (Note: Indian Mujahedeen is an India-based terrorist group which took claim for blasts in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, and Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Delhi serial blasts throughout 2008. Since these attacks, the Indian government arrested a number of alleged members. In previous attacks, IM immediately claimed responsibility for bombings; however, no group has yet claimed responsibility for Pune incident. End Note.) Maharashtra state Chief Minister, Ashok Chavan, told the Consul General that the Maharashtra state police, including the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS),has the lead on the investigation, but will receive assistance from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). (The Consul General also offered U.S. assistance to the investigation.) ATS officials told the press that the IED was between five and seven kilograms. ¶6. (SBU) At a press conference in Pune Sunday morning, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram urged the press and public not to speculate about the causes and targets of the attacks until the forensic and police investigation is complete. Nevertheless, noting that this is the first significant attack since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, Chidambaram said, "All the information available to us at the moment points to a plot to explode a device in a place that is frequented by foreigners as well as Indians." Chidambaram claimed that the German Bakery was one of the sites surveyed by Lashkar-e-Toiba associate David Headley - along with Chabad House and the Osho Ashram -- and that police had been "sensitized" to its potential as a target. Chidambaram reiterated his request that the GOI be provided access to Headley. (CM Chavan also noted the Headley connection in conversation with the CG. Headley, now in the U.S. custody, reportedly stayed at a hotel next door to the German Bakery while in Pune.) However, Chidambaram said that there was no specific intelligence about a possible attack. Ambassador Offers Condolences and Assistance -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador called Home Minister Chidambaram the evening of February 13 to express our sympathies to the victims and to offer U.S. help. The Home Minister said it was too early to know many details about the attack and promised to be in touch. Also on February 13, Legatt reached out to law enforcement contacts to highlight U.S. willingness to provide forensic assistance as the U.S. did following the Mumbai attacks. GOI officials said at this point in the investigation, they had the remains of the IED and a number of witnesses. They said they would respond in the next several days to USG offers of help. Timed To Disrupt Indo-Pak talks? -------------- --- ¶8. (SBU) Spokespersons for the Opposition BJP Party were quick to jump on the blast as evidence of continued involvement of Pakistani elements in terror in India and questioned whether Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan that had been announced on Friday should go forward. Both Home Minister Chidambaram and ruling Congress Party spokespersons refused to comment on the consequences for the nascent round of MUMBAI 00000053 003.2 OF 003 talks, which were to be held February 25. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has been quoted as stating that the blasts were aimed at injuring prospects for the talks. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The Home Minister's pro-active involvement in the case indicates that the Indian Government will take this case more seriously than others in the past. With no immediate suspects, however, finding the perpetrators will involve significant police work and collaboration between the new National Investigation Agency and other law enforcement agencies, for the first time. At the state level, questions are being raised about the police and their commitment to protecting previously-identified targets. With the police force regularly consumed with basic law and order responsibilities - such as ensuring controversial movies open peacefully in Mumbai -- terrorists will continue to find opportunities to strike soft targets in the state. The broader implications for Indo-Pakistan dialogue will only become apparent in the next several days. End Comment. FOLMSBEE