The Vancouver Olympics Cables: Day 8

From Feb. 19, 2010, as published April 28, 2011 by WikiLeaks

10VANCOUVER86 2010-02-19 22:10 2011-04-28 00:12 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Vancouver

UNCLAS VANCOUVER 000086

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR DS/TIA
STATE FOR DS/DSS/DO
STATE FOR DS/P/MECU
STATE FOR DS/DO/P
STATE FOR DS/ICI/CI
STATE FOR DS/T/ATA
STATE FOR DS/TIA/ITA
STATE FOR DS/TIA/PII
STATE FOR DS/TIA/CC
STATE FOR S/CT
STATE FOR CA/OCS/ACS/WHA
STATE FOR DS/IP/WHA
STATE FOR WHA/CAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC KOLY CASC CA PTER AMGT PINR OVIP
SUBJECT: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics: Situation Report #9

¶1. (SBU) The following report provides security-related
information for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games as of noon
on February 19, 2010. Please visit the following link for
additional classified reporting:
https://nol.nctc.sgov.gov/ng/cgi-bin/nctcHome .cgi?event=Vancouver_2
¶010. The interagency USG Joint Operations Center can be contacted
on a 24-hour basis at 604-692-2509, ext 4013.



SECURITY ISSUES



Protests:



¶2. (U) 18 February Protest Activity - No Olympics-related protests
occurred yesterday.



¶3. (U) Current Protest Activity - There are no Olympics-related
protests scheduled for today, February 19.



¶4. (SBU) Anticipated Protest Activity - The next demonstration of
note - a "Rally for National Housing" - is scheduled for noon on
Saturday, February 20 on the north (Georgia Street) side of the
Vancouver Art Gallery. Canadian sources expect it to be non-violent
and further note some visiting anti-Olympic activists are departing
Vancouver, which suggests additional protests are unlikely.
Diplomatic Security will continue to monitor protest activity and
will provide updates as necessary.

Incidents:



¶5. (U//FOUO) Second Possible Security Breach at BC Place - Open
sources report a person with a valid ticket for Monday's Victory
Ceremony at BC Place passed through security with a possible
suspicious item in his/her bag. The person walked away from the
screening area before the bag could be further inspected. The Royal
Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Security Unit's Emergency
Response Team responded, but could not locate the subject. Police
are unsure what the device in question may have been; however, the
RCMP did a thorough sweep of the 60,000-seat stadium at the end of
the evening with negative results. Olympic security staff noted
safety procedures at BC Place are being reviewed. Law enforcement
officers supervise security personnel at a 1:4 ratio at Olympic
venues; pedestrian screening should take between 30-60 seconds per
person.



¶6. (U//FOUO//LES) Suspicious Map of Whistler Athlete's Village
Discovered - RCMP advised Whistler-based DS Field Liaison Officers
(FLOs) that a small map depicting locations of Coca-Cola machines
in the Whistler Athlete's Village was discovered. Canadian
authorities are investigating.



Threats:

¶7. (SBU) At this time, there are no known specific, credible
transnational terrorist threats against the Vancouver Olympics.



¶8. (SBU) Suspicious Call to TSA Operations Center - Update - The
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) identified and contacted the
female caller, who expressed concern about passenger N. FAROOQUI.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) identified the subject as
a passenger aboard U.S Airways flight #508 from Phoenix to
Vancouver. She was intercepted in the outbound jet way on February
18, after which she was interviewed and her baggage was examined
with negative results. FAROOQUI has crossed the U.S.-Canada
boundary line six times in the last six months and has no prior
derogatory information.



¶9. (SBU) FBI Receives Anonymous Write-in Alleging Unspecified
Olympics Attack - FBI headquarters received an anonymous write-in
threat letter contending Nazreen Ali - an alleged international
terrorist of Fijian descent currently living in Canada - and her
sister "are planning to do a big one in the winter Olympics" (NFI).
The write-in stated the alleged terrorist had returned to Fiji to
obtain additional training and would attempt to re-enter Canada via
Los Angeles Airport between January 1 and 30, 2010. The letter
appears to have been mailed from Canada. The RCMP is aware of and
investigating the information.



SECURITY OPERATIONS



¶10. (SBU) Other than scheduled USOC and team movements, no major

Olympics-related security operations have transpired during this
reporting period.



¶11. (SBU) DHS Secretary Napolitano, Health and Human Services
Secretary Sebelius, and Ambassador to the USUN Susan Rice will
visit Vancouver from February 25 to March 1 and attend the closing
ceremonies.



PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY



¶12. There is no significant information or activity to report.



CONSULAR ISSUES



¶13. There is no significant information or activity to report.



POLITICAL/GENERAL ISSUES



¶14. Unseasonably warm weather conditions continue in the
Vancouver area. A schedule and results of all competitions
throughout the Games can be found at
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-schedule -results/.
CHICOLA