US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE1778

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 001778 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DS/IP/EUR, DS/ITA/EUR, DSCC 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER 
SUBJECT: THE HAGUE EAC CONVENED - JULY 15, 2004 
 
 
Classified By: LISELI MUNDIE ACTING RSO THE HAGUE 
 
 1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: Post held an EAC meeting July 15 in response to the 
Dutch government decision elevating the general threat level in the 
Netherlands. RSO and ORCA briefed on the threat situation and the EAC 
decided not to change the current security posture and that there was 
no 
specific, credible or non-counterable threat information warranting it. 
However, the Deputy Chief of Mission reviewed security procedures and 
urged all staff to exercise vigilance and caution. Post has 
disseminated 
an updated warden and OSAC notice. 
 
2. (U) DETAILS: The police and ministries informed the RSO Office that 
the 
Dutch had raised the general threat level as a precautionary measure as 
the European Union Presidency was being handed over to the Dutch and 
due 
to the Al Qaida-issued deadline for European countries to remove their 
military personnel from Iraq by July 15, 2004. The police and relevant 
ministries stated that there was not any specific, credible or 
non-counterable threats to U.S. facilities or citizens. 
 
3. (U) The Diplomatic Protective Police, who provide protection for 
both 
the U.S. Ambassador and the U.S. Consul General, have taken the unusual 
step of placing undercover surveillance teams in the vicinity of the 
U.S. 
Embassy at their own discretion. 
 
4. (S/NF) ORCA has learned from the Dutch Intelligence and Security 
Service (AIVD) of several recent reports of incidents and anomalies. 
The 
AIVD reported that an individual associated with a terrorist cell from 
Antwerp had been observed by the AIVD in The Hague casing areas 
including 
the AIVD building and the U.S. and British Embassies.  The AIVD 
reported 
another incident that involved two Middle Eastern men that were found 
filming the  tunnels under Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The AIVD also 
reported finding blasting caps; a list of 40 places where fertilizer 
could 
be purchased; and floorplans of the AIVD, Dutch Parliament and the 
Dutch 
Foreign Ministry buildings in the residence of an individual detained 
by 
the Dutch Police for involvement in an armed robbery in Rotterdam. The 
AIVD reported two other incidents involving casings of other locations 
in 
the Netherlands, to include the U.S. Embassy in The Hague by members of 
two seperate terrorist cells located in the Middle East and Europe. 
 
5. (S/NF) The DCM spoke to the Director of Crises Management and 
Security 
Matters, Arjen Jonge Vos, regarding the elevated threat level. Jonge 
Vos 
re-iterated that there was no specific,  threat toward U.S. citizens or 
official U.S. facilities and that the threat level had been elevated 
due 
to theAIVD reports.  Jonge Vos also stated that the Security Triangle 
(Comprised of Ministries and Police Departments) had reviewed the 
security 
measures at several locations to include the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. 
Consulate General. Jonge Vos stated that some locations that did not 
have 
much security postures in effect had recently received police booths 
and 
police presence at their locations but stated that the U.S. Embassy and 
Consulate General had security measures in effect that were deemed as 
being above security standards, thus not requiring increased security 
measures or extra police presence at either one. 
 
6. (U) Post activated the warden system to advise American citizens in 
the 
Netherlands of the general elevation of the threat level in the 
Netherlands and the Acting RSO office has notified Overseas Security 
Advisory Council (OSAC) members as well. The Acting RSO has briefed the 
duty officer concerning the elevated threat level and the posted 
messages. 
The acting RSO in in the process of disseminating an Embassy-wide 
security 
instruction to remind Embassy personal to vary their routes, times and 
remain aware of their surrounding and maintain vigilance. 
 
SOBEL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOBEL