Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #9

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000086 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 #9 ¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon on February 19, 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 Protests: ¶2. (U) 18 February Protest Activity - No Olympics-related protests occurred yesterday. ¶3. (U) Current Protest Activity - There are no Olympics-related protests scheduled for today, February 19. ¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - The next demonstration of note - a "Rally for National Housing" - is scheduled for noon on Saturday, February 20 on the north (Georgia Street) side of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Canadian sources expect it to be non-violent and further note some visiting anti-Olympic activists are departing Vancouver, which suggests additional protests are unlikely. Diplomatic Security will continue to monitor protest activity and will provide updates as necessary. Incidents: ¶5. (U//FOUO) Second Possible Security Breach at BC Place - Open sources report a person with a valid ticket for Monday's Victory Ceremony at BC Place passed through security with a possible suspicious item in his/her bag. The person walked away from the screening area before the bag could be further inspected. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Security Unit's Emergency Response Team responded, but could not locate the subject. Police are unsure what the device in question may have been; however, the RCMP did a thorough sweep of the 60,000-seat stadium at the end of the evening with negative results. Olympic security staff noted safety procedures at BC Place are being reviewed. Law enforcement officers supervise security personnel at a 1:4 ratio at Olympic venues; pedestrian screening should take between 30-60 seconds per person. ¶6. (U//FOUO//LES) Suspicious Map of Whistler Athlete's Village Discovered - RCMP advised Whistler-based DS Field Liaison Officers (FLOs) that a small map depicting locations of Coca-Cola machines in the Whistler Athlete's Village was discovered. Canadian authorities are investigating. Threats: ¶7. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible transnational terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics. ¶8. (SBU) Suspicious Call to TSA Operations Center - Update - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified and contacted the female caller, who expressed concern about passenger N. FAROOQUI. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified the subject as a passenger aboard U.S Airways flight #508 from Phoenix to Vancouver. She was intercepted in the outbound jet way on February 18, after which she was interviewed and her baggage was examined with negative results. FAROOQUI has crossed the U.S.-Canada boundary line six times in the last six months and has no prior derogatory information. ¶9. (SBU) FBI Receives Anonymous Write-in Alleging Unspecified Olympics Attack - FBI headquarters received an anonymous write-in threat letter contending Nazreen Ali - an alleged international terrorist of Fijian descent currently living in Canada - and her sister "are planning to do a big one in the winter Olympics" (NFI). The write-in stated the alleged terrorist had returned to Fiji to obtain additional training and would attempt to re-enter Canada via Los Angeles Airport between January 1 and 30, 2010. The letter appears to have been mailed from Canada. The RCMP is aware of and investigating the information. SECURITY OPERATIONS ¶10. (SBU) Other than scheduled USOC and team movements, no major Olympics-related security operations have transpired during this reporting period. ¶11. (SBU) DHS Secretary Napolitano, Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius, and Ambassador to the USUN Susan Rice will visit Vancouver from February 25 to March 1 and attend the closing ceremonies. PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶12. There is no significant information or activity to report. CONSULAR ISSUES ¶13. There is no significant information or activity to report. POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES ¶14. Unseasonably warm weather conditions continue in the Vancouver area. A schedule and results of all competitions throughout the Games can be found at http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/. CHICOLA