US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI650

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000650 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/DSS, DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/PII, 
DS/IP/ATA 
ADDIS ABABA, ASMARA AND NAIROBI FOR RSO 
CJTF HOA FOR J2, J2X, ATFP, MARCENT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2029 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PREL, DJ, ET 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: EXPLOSION IN THE CITY LIMITS 
 
Classified By: RSO Marc Ramos for reason 1.4 (b) AND (c) 
 
 1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  On 26 April, 2004 an explosion took place 
in Quartier 4 (Q4) in the city of Djibouti.  One person was 
injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.  The 
National Police (PN) conducted an investigation and submitted 
their findings to RSO Djibouti.  Several details of the 
incident remain inconclusive, but RSO will continue to work 
with Host Nation counterparts to try and solidify the 
information. 
 
2. (C) On 26 April, 2004 (time unknown) the Chief 
Investigator of the PN, Commander Omar Houssein, was notified 
by the PN command center that an explosion occurred in a 
house located in Q4 near the Cheik Issa Mosque.  Cmdr 
Houssein immediately initiated an investigation. 
 
Upon arrival to the site, Cmdr Houssein instructed an 
ambulance to transport a female, (ethnicity unknown), to the 
Djiboutian central medical facility - Peltier Hospital.  The 
PN then proceeded to question and subsequently arrest eight 
individuals at the site, who were suspected of involvement in 
the incident. 
 
The PN collected several pieces of metal, which they believe 
are fragmented parts of the explosive device.  An assessment 
of the blast pattern was conducted and the PN came to the 
conclusion that the device was placed in the kitchen ceiling 
of the house.  Unfortunately, the PN does not have the 
material resources to effectively identify the type or size 
of device used. 
 
The PN states that as a result of interviews, Youssouf 
Mohamoud Said (an Ethiopian Oromo male) is the primary 
suspect in detonation of the device.  In addition, the PN 
believe that Said and his brother, Djamal Mahamoud Said, are 
probably the individuals responsible for either carrying out 
or coordinating bombings aboard the Djibouti/Ethiopian train 
in the past year.  Unfortunately, Djamal fled the scene and 
is nowhere to be found.  The PN is continuing their 
investigation and have promised to keep the RSO informed as 
to the development of the case. 
 
3. (S) RSO Notes:  RSO believes that much of this information 
was passed to him in an effort to gain support for the 
Djiboutian theory on the train bombings.  The Djiboutians 
theorize that the Ethiopian government is behind the 
explosions on the train and they have made several attempts 
to solicit support from the USG in the manner of financial 
resources to invigorate a failing transport system. 
Djiboutians are well aware of the passion that Americans have 
for countering terrorism and use key words such as bombs, 
terrorists and security to garner financial and material 
assistance at available opportunities.  RSO will continue to 
monitor the investigation, but remains skeptical of 
information provided by Djiboutian authorities. 
 
4. (SBU) On a positive note, reports from several sources 
indicated that the Djiboutian investigative team responded 
quickly to the scene of the crime and conducted their 
investigation in a methodical and professional manner. 
Bystanders were impressed with the type of evidence 
collection equipment used and the precise application of 
specialized tools to secure the site and determine the 
location of the device   This sort of response can only be 
attributed to the successful contribution put forth by the 
Anti Terrorism Assistance program.  The techniques applied 
and equipment used is directly linked to the Post Blast 
Investigation Course and the Terrorist Crime Scene 
investigation course.  These courses have been crucial in 
enhancing the very capabilities needed to respond to an 
incident at the Embassy and is the best dollar for dollar 
investment the USG has in countering terrorism in Djibouti. 
 
 
5. (S) RSO requests ITA, PII and Embassies Addis Ababa, 
Asmara, Nairobi, Khartoum and Sanaa conduct name checks on 
the following persons to correlate any potential terrorist 
associations: 
 
- Mohamed Said Dirir - Djiboutian National (Landlord) 
- Youssouf Mohamed Said, Ethiopian Oromo (prime suspect in 
custody) 
- Djamal Mohamed Said - AKA "Gandokoray" (prime suspect at 
large) 
- Safia Abdillahi Mouhoumed, Ethipoian Oromo (spouse of 
Youssouf Mohamed Said) 
- Said Aden, Djiboutian National 
- Khairia Abass Omar, Ethiopian Oromo (spouse of Aden) 
- Mahdi Said Aden, Djiboutian National (son of Aden and 
Khairia) 
- Aicha Ahmed Said, Ethiopian Oromo 
- Assia Youssouf Robleh, Ethiopian Oromo 
- Ahmed Mohamed Abdoulkader, Djiboutian National 
5. POC is RSO Marc Ramos at 253-35-39-95 or 253-35-26-73 
(secure). 
RAGSDALE