Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #4

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000066 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR DS/TIA STATE FOR DS/DSS/DO STATE FOR DS/P/MECU STATE FOR DS/DO/P STATE FOR DS/ICI/CI STATE FOR DS/T/ATA STATE FOR DS/TIA/ITA STATE FOR DS/TIA/PII STATE FOR DS/TIA/CC STATE FOR S/CT STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA STATE FOR WHA/CAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KOLY CASC CA PTER AMGT PINR OVIP SUBJECT: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #4 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon on February 14, 2010. Please visit the following link for additional classified reporting: https://nol.nctc.sgov.gov/ng/cgi-bin/nctcHome .cgi?event=Vancouver_2 ¶010. The interagency USG Joint Operations Center can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext 4013. SECURITY ISSUES Olympic Protests: ¶2. (SBU) February 13 Protest Activity - Approximately 250 individuals - many of them affiliated with so-called "Black Bloc" anarchist groups - engaged in acts of vandalism during the "Heart Attack" march, which was apparently part of a broader "2010 Autonomous Day of Action." One group threw red paint at the Hudson Bay Company store at Granville and Robson Streets and smashed two windows with a newspaper box. In a similar incident, the Toronto Dominion Bank sustained damage to one of its street-level windows. Newspaper boxes, rubbish bins, and caf???? furniture were also dragged into the street at various locations to obstruct traffic. Broken windows and spray paint graffiti on cars and buses were reported at other locations. Vancouver Police arrested at least seven for attempted assault at West Georgia and Cardero Streets. The Lions Gate Bridge was also temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to reports that protestors were moving in that direction. The bridge was never affected and later reopened. ¶3. (SBU) Current Protest Activity - The 19th Annual Women's March will take place from noon to 4 p.m. today. The march will begin at the Carnegie Community Centre and proceed through Downtown Eastside. This event is not Olympics-related, and anti-Olympics protesters are discouraged from attending. Vancouver's 36th Annual Chinese New Year Parade, expected to draw up to 20,000 people, coincides with the march. ¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - Another "2010 Autonomous Day of Action" is scheduled for Monday, February 15. As evidenced in Saturday's demonstrations, small groups of anarchists may engage in acts of vandalism and confrontations with local law enforcement. An "Anti-War and Anti-Militarization Moving Spectacle" will take place at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street side) at 6 p.m. Incidents: ¶5. (SBU) Subject Detained at Opening Ceremonies - An individual who attempted to enter the International Olympic Committee presidential box inside BC Place during Friday's Opening Ceremonies using fake accreditation was detained. While the motive is unclear, the subject is not a known activist and did not appear to have malicious intent. Threats: ¶6. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. ¶7. (SBU/LES) Alleged threat to Olympics deemed non-credible - According to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) information, Vancouver police were notified that an inmate at Pinellas County Jail, Florida, conversed with a prisoner of Arabic origin regarding a possible terrorist attack on February 20 involving an aircraft flown into the main area of the Olympics in Vancouver (NFI). The FBI ascertained no individuals matching the alleged Arabic inmate are presently incarcerated. This threat is considered non-credible. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶8. (SBU) U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend several Olympic events in Vancouver today. The Vice President is scheduled to depart Vancouver on Monday, February 15. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶9. Public affairs staff continued to assist White House advance with setting up press interviews, with Vice President Biden taping one interview with NBC Saturday evening, and another with CBS on Sunday morning. The Globe and Mail's Jane Tabor has requested an interview with Ambassador Jacobson for early next week. No press inquiries on Olympic-specific topics. CONSULAR ISSUES ¶10. There is no significant information or activity to report. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶11. Vice-President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper held a bi-lateral meeting Saturday. They discussed issues ranging from security to the economy and the upcoming G8 and G20 summits. (Will be reported septel). ¶12. Unseasonably warm weather conditions, fog, and heavy rain continue to interfere with Olympic competitions. Olympic officials have been forced to reschedule many outdoor events. ¶13. During a rainstorm on Cypress Mountain, American women's freestyle mogul skier Hannah Kearney upset Canadian gold medal hopeful Jenn Heil to unexpectedly take the first US gold medal of the Games. Canadian efforts to win a gold medal on Canadian soil, a feat never achieved in the Winter Olympics, has been a constant feature of Canadian media coverage leading up to the 2010 Games. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/. . CHICOLA