US embassy cable - 05MAPUTO329

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000329 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
STATE FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/IP/ITA, DS/OPO/FPD, 
POSTS FOR RSO 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: ARMED ASSAULT ADJACENT TO AMERICAN EMBASSY MAPUTO 
 
1. On 03/10/05 at approximately 0037 hours, an armed home 
invasion robbery attempt was committed against the residence 
located on the SE corner of Faria de Sousa and Damiao de Gois 
Rua. This location is directly across from the primary 
vehicle entrance to the American Embassy at an approximate 
distance of 15 meters. According to a report filed by 
Wackenhut guards and an interview of the day-shift guard at 
the residence, three men were parked across the street from 
the home, awaiting the arrival of the resident, a Danish 
citizen and an employee of Motorcare. When the resident 
arrived two men got out of their vehicle and made entry 
through the residential vehicle gate. They instructed the 
guard, from Securcor, to lie down on the ground under the car 
and for the victim to get out of his car. During this time, 
while the assailants were dealing with the victim, the guard 
sneaked out from under the car and activated the silent panic 
alarm. A Securcor armed response team arrived shortly 
thereafter to assess the situation. Upon their arrival, they 
received gunfire from the assailants who were now getting in 
their car to escape. The assailants drove off, but the 
Securcor vehicle did not give chase since it was still 
receiving fire from the assailants, scoring hits on the 
security vehicle. The RSO was contacted shortly thereafter 
and made aware of the incident. Local Embassy guards and 
police posted at the Embassy did not respond. Witnesses said 
that four to five shots were fired. Police recovered two 
shell casings. 
 
2. Review of Embassy security cameras show an account 
slightly different than that stated by the witnesses 
questioned by the Wackenhut guards, the police, RSO, and 
ARSO. Primary differences center on the fact that it appears 
the assailants' vehicle arrived approximately 50 seconds 
after the arrival of the resident. It also appears that the 
assailants fired from their car as they drove away, firing 
their weapons in a southerly direction down Damiao de Gois, 
along the west side of the Embassy with a line of fire 
adjacent to the guard booth, rather than down Faria de Sousa 
and away from the Embassy as stated by the witnesses. The 
post directly across the street from the incident is manned 
by one Wackenhut guard, one police officer, and one rapid 
reaction force police officer. Video shows that the rapid 
reaction force police officer was likely asleep or at least 
inattentive to the situation prior to it occurring. The other 
police officer was just coming out of the Annex building as 
the event happened. As shots were fired, police and guards 
all took cover. Video resolution was poor and did not capture 
any relevant details such as make, model or license plate of 
the vehicles. Video from the DVR was saved to a CD and stored 
in the RSO files. 
 
3. PIR and PRM commanders were informed and a meeting was 
conducted on the morning of 03/10/05 to discuss the event and 
the lack of police response. Police commanders questioned the 
guards and the police posted at the Embassy and ensured the 
RSO that corrective measures would be taken immediately to 
improve police response and effectiveness. 
 
4. RSO Comment: This incident is in line with those that have 
occurred in the past several months, although it appears that 
the assailants are becoming more brazen as there appeared to 
be little reluctance on their part to fire on security 
forces. This assault causes further concern due to the 
proximity to the American Embassy and an armed local police 
presence, and that they attacked a residence with visible 
security measures. Embassy personnel will be informed of the 
incident and reminded to be alert, especially when arriving 
at their residences where they are most vulnerable. 
LALIME