US embassy cable - 05SANAA315

S E C R E T SANAA 000315 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ 
ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2015 
TAGS: AMGT, ASEC, PREL, PTER, YM, EAC, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 02/13/2005 
 
REF: (S/NF) RAMIS CT:PRELIMINARY REPORT. DOI: EARLY 
     FEBRUARY 2005 
 
Classified By: RSO Tim Laas, for reasons 1.4 (b) (c) and 
(d). 
 
1.  (S/NF) Begin Summary - The Ambassador convened an EAC 
meeting on February 13, 2005, to discuss a recent report 
about two individuals who are in custody after a belt laden 
with explosives, for placement around a persons waist, was 
turned in at a police station on Tuesday, 8 February 2005. 
EAC members recommended no changes in current security policy 
pending further review of the incident.  EAC members 
recommended that the Ambassador should conduct a Town Hall 
meeting as soon as possible to discuss community security 
concerns.  Key offices and personnel represented at the 
meeting included:  DCM, FPD, CCE-Y, RMAS, POL/ECON, DAO, FPD, 
OMC and RSO. End Summary. 
 
2.  (S/NF) RMAS informed the EAC that ROYG contacts confirmed 
that a Yemen citizen identified SEPTEL, wanted to prevent a 
terrorist attack, and therefore turned in an explosive laden 
belt as well as person(s) associated with possible attack 
plan. 
 
3.  (S/NF) RSO discussed two sources with the EAC.  The first 
source, MOI Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Sunidar 
confirmed for RSO, that a man was arrested with a belt laden 
with TNT and a timer attached to his arm.  The man, according 
to MOI, turned himself in and provided information leading to 
the arrest of one of his brothers, and the discovery of a 
second explosive-laden belt and timer at his residence. 
 
4.  (SBU) The RSO also provided the EAC with a corporate 
security source report from a known source whose reliablity 
has not been established.  According to this report, a man 
possessing an explosive laden belt turned himself in at a 
Police Station at about 1700 hours on February 8, 2005, with 
13 packs of explosives, 2 grams each, strapped to his person. 
 Subject was not dis-armed until about 2100 hours; 3 to 4 
arrests resulted from the leads developed from the Subject 
who was extremely nervous and shaking according to this 
report.  At least two houses were reportedly raided and 
weapons and explosives found.  As noted in para. 2, Arrest 
has been verified by RMAS who has been promised more 
information by PSO after initial interrogation of detainee is 
completed. 
 
5. (S/NF) EAC discussed increased scrutiny by the RSO and 
post management regarding the sponsoring of events that 
cluster Americans in soft-target sites.  EAC noted the 
management offices efforts to have a quicker turn-around time 
for newly arrived officers to replace American Embassy 
Diplomatic plates with local blue plates.  EAC members chose 
not to put any establishments off-limits such as the 
&Russian Club8 a western bar and dance club, at this time. 
Krajeski