US embassy cable - 02AMMAN6282

S E C R E T AMMAN 006282 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DOHA PLEASE PASS TO A/S BURNS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2007 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, PREL, JO 
SUBJECT: ASSASSINATION OF U.S. DIPLOMAT IN AMMAN 10/28: 
SITREP 3 
 
REF: (A) AMMAN 6265 (B) AMMAN 6261 
 
Classified By: DCM Gregory L. Berry.  Reasons 1.5 (b,d). 
 
1. (C) The GOJ's investigation of this morning's murder of 
USAID employee Larry Foley continues.  As reported 
previously, cooperation from the GID and PSD has been 
excellent. 
 
2. (S/NF) Investigation: According to investigators working 
the case, the assailant used a small caliber 7mm handgun to 
fire six shots at close range, killing Mr. Foley instantly. 
Witnesses reported seeing a lone gunman fleeing up the street 
following the shooting, where he appeared to join another 
unidentified male.  Both men were then seen getting into a 
dark colored car which then departed the area.  PSD and GID 
are working intently and cooperatively to further identify 
the make and model of the car, and the identities of the men 
seen leaving the scene.  Additional details on the status of 
the investigation will be sent septel. 
 
3. (S/NF)  Security: Additional GID and PSD security 
personnel have been deployed around the Embassy, ancillary 
USG facilities, embassy residences, the American Community 
School, and areas where members of the American community are 
known to congregate.  The PSD has increased the threat level 
in the country to the highest degree possible, and has 
assigned additional marked police cars, roving patrols, and 
plain clothes personnel to these tasks.  Working-level PSD 
and GID officials have been tasked to pursue leads from 
intelligence sources within the Palestinian, Iraqi, and 
radical Islamic communities to learn possible identities of 
the culprits. 
 
4. (U) At 1230 local time, the Ambassador convoked a town 
hall meeting for all Embassy employees, both U.S. and 
Jordanian, to review the day's tragic events and provide 
information to the Embassy community on steps the GOJ is 
taking to protect American personnel and apprehend the 
perpertrator(s).  At 1630 local time, the Ambassador held a 
similar meeting for Embassy family members who were not able 
to attend the 1230 gathering. 
 
5. (C) At 1400 local time, the  Chief of Royal Protocol, 
Faisel al-Fayez informed the Ambassador that King Abdullah 
wished to pay a condolence call to Virginia Foley on October 
29. 
 
6. (C) At 1430 local time, Polcouns spoke with NEA Staff 
Assistant Wurr in Doha and conveyed that Virginia Foley has 
accepted NEA A/S Burns' offer to come to Amman and accompany 
her and Larry Foley's casket back to the U.S.  The Embassy 
understands that A/S Burns has milair, but may face problems 
obtaining Saudi air clearances.  We are looking into 
commercial connections from Doha to Amman as an alternative. 
In either case, we are planning for A/S Burns to arrive in 
Amman sometime on 10/29. 
 
7. (C) At 1515 local time, DCM talked with NEA/EX Director 
Hudson about arranging milair to carry Larry Foley's body 
from Amman to the U.S.  Current plans envision a departure 
from Amman on Wednesday morning, 10/30. 
 
GNEHM