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DE RUEHAS #0105/01 0380806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070806Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8396
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 1062
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1999

UNCLAS ALGIERS 000105 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS, DS/DSS, SDERCC, S/CT, S/ES-O, 
DS/ICI/PII, DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/FPO, NEA/EX. NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC PGOV SNAR AG
SUBJECT:  November 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND 
SIGNIFICANT SECURITY INCIDENTS 
 
REFS: A) Algiers 01157 
  B) Algiers 00992 
 
¶1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION:  This cable is a summary of major 
security-related activities, terrorist threats, and 
incidents for Algeria during the month of November 2009. 
The information was obtained from open sources, news 
reports, and RSO police contacts.  Press-based information 
should not be taken as exact or definitive but can be used 
to track countrywide patterns and trends.  Reported 
activities are maintained in a master database utilized by 
the RSO in formulating guidelines for life safety and travel 
within Algeria.  Please note that Algerian media frequently 
still refer to al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) by 
its previous name, the Salafist Group for Preaching and 
Combat (GSPC).  End introduction. 
 
¶2. (U) Terrorist-specific trends:  During the month of 
November, Algerian security forces engaged in 17 conflicts 
with terrorist elements throughout the country.  This 
resulted in eight deaths and 21 injuries (to include 
military and gendarmerie forces).  Seventeen bombs, nine of 
which were defused, were reported in the month of November 
and resulted in a soldier's death and 18 serious injuries 
(eight military officers, five gendarmes, and five 
civilians). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Suicide bombers successfully infiltrated Algiers in 
the month of November.  On November 3, RSO Algiers was 
informed by local police contacts of the capture of a 
suicide bomber (the suspect was arrested on or about 
November 1).   Police reported that the suspect had been 
wearing a suicide vest and had been tasered and captured 
just three miles from the American Embassy.  Under 
interrogation, the suspect admitted to an accomplice -- a 
second suicide bomber who was still at large in the city. 
 The second suspect Abdelkrim Arfiche (aka Abou Mouaad), was 
believed to have successfully fled the city soon after the 
planned attack was disrupted, despite a city-wide man hunt 
for his capture and arrest (ALGIERS REF B). 
 
¶4. (U) Monthly statistics for November, 2009, are as 
follows: 
Security forces killed:  8 
Security forces injured:  21 
Kidnappings:  3 
Bombs:  17 (8 defused prior to detonation) 
False road blocks:  0 
Civilians killed:  1 
Civilians injured:  5 
Terrorists killed:  23 
Terrorists injured:  2 
Terrorists arrested:  29 
 
¶5. (U) DETAILS: Below please find detailed local news 
reports of select terrorist/security-related incidents 
throughout the month of November. 
 
November 01: 
 
- In Constantine (270 miles southeast of Algiers), a 
Gendarme was killed and three military members were 
injured in a terrorist attack at a checkpoint in Ibn 
Badis in Constantine. 
 
- In Tebessa (396 southeast of Algiers), a weapons 
trafficking network was dismantled and 13 members were 
arrested.  Numerous weapons and ammunition were 
recovered. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), a homemade bomb 
was defused in the village of Chrea Draa el-Mizan. 
 
- In Djelfa (171 miles south of Algiers), the Gendarmerie 
Nationale dismantled an arms trafficking network and 
seizedten hunting guns. 
November 02: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security forces 
killed a terrorist and recovered a Kalashnikov rifle and 
a pair of binoculars. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), three remote- 
controlled IEDs were defused in the pathway of the 
Mizrana forest during a military operation. 
 
 
- In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers), the 
Gendarmerie seized nine kilos of hashish. 
 
- In Oran (270 miles west of Algiers), coast guards of Beni 
Saf recovered one kilo of cannabis in Ain Timouchent. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), an IED 
seriously injured three military members during a 
security operation. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), a remote 
controlled IED seriously injured two Gendarmes. 
 
November 03: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 east of Algiers), Algerian troops killed 
two terrorists and confiscated two Kalashnikov rifles. 
- In Boumerdes (31 east of Algiers) , Algerian security 
forces defused three roadside bombs in the forest of 
Mizrana, considered one of the main strongholds of 
terrorists groups in Boumerdes. 
 
November 04: 
 
- In Algiers, the Gendarmerie in Eucalyptus dismantled a 
drug ring. 
 
- In Jijel (224 miles east of Algiers), a bomb explosion 
injured a military officer. 
 
November 05: 
 
- In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers), the GSPC "Emir" 
Ghazi Toufik, alias "Tahar," was reportedly killed during 
clashes with Algerian military forces.  He was reportedly 
one of AQIM leader Droukdal's personal guards. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), two suspected 
terrorists were killed in a military operation. 
 
- In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers), a suspected 
terrorist was killed in Remila during a military ambush. 
 
November 06: 
 
- In Chlef (130 miles southeast of Algiers), Gendarmerie 
patrolling the shores in the area of Sidi Boukheffa found 
30 kilos of hashish. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), the chief of 
GSPC's "Council of Notables" Moubarak Yazid, also known 
as "Abou Oubaida al-Annabi, was reported as being 
seriously injured in an ambush conducted by the ANP in 
Bouzguene, Tizi Ouzou.  Three other suspected terrorists 
were killed in the same operation. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east from Algiers), a bomb 
exploded in the forest of Draa el-Mizan. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), a military 
officer was killed in a bomb blast.  An EOD squad was 
sent to de-mine the area, which seemed to serve as a 
homemade bomb repository of the GSPC's Ansar terrorist 
faction. 
 
- In Oum El Bouaghi (312 miles east of Algiers), the 
Gendarmerie Nationale dismantled a weapons trafficking 
network.  One person was arrested in possession of a 
Beretta pistol. 
 
November 07: 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles East of Algiers), military forces 
bombed what they believed to be the hideout of terrorist 
leader Si Mohamed Ouremdan, alias "Mouh el-Kechkach." 
 
November 08: 
 
- In Bejaia (164 east of Algiers), a 50-year-old woman was 
kidnapped by suspected terrorists but released unharmed 
two hours later. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), Akli Mazari, 
alias Abou Sofiane, "Emir" of Saryate Sidi Ali Bounab and 
 
suspected sponsor of kidnappings and false checkpoints, 
was killed in Tizi Ouzou.  He was believed to be an 
important chief of the terrorist organization GSPC. 
 
November 09: 
 
- In Algiers city, 15 kilos of cannabis and 20 grams of 
heroin were seized in the city center. 
 
- In Blida (31 miles southwest of Algiers), four kilos of 
hashish were seized and one man arrested. 
 
November 10: 
 
- In Tlemcen (362 west of Algiers), 146 kilos of hashish 
were seized in Bounaim.  The traffickers abandoned their 
vehicles after they were spotted by customs officers. 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), security forces 
reported the killing of Abu Abdessamie, leader of 
"Katibet Ennour," in an ambush.  Abu Abdessamie 
reportedly joined the Salafist Group for Preaching and 
Combat (GSPC) in 2000. 
 
November 11: 
 
- In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers), suspected 
terrorists targeted a military patrol in Ouled Aissa. 
Two officers were killed and five seriously injured. 
 
November 12: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), two citizens 
were injured in a roadside bomb explosion. 
 
- In Algiers, members of an international network of car 
traffickers between France and Algeria were arrested. 
 
- In Tlemcen (362 west of Algiers), the Gendarmerie 
Nationale seized 146 kg of hashish, but no arrests were 
reported. 
 
November 13: 
 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), five military 
members were injured by an IED explosion while on patrol. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), two terrorist 
support networks were dismantled in the locality of 
Naciria. 
 
- In Bejaia (164 miles east of Algiers), a civilian and a 
military officer were injured after an IED explosion. 
Two other IED?s were defused. 
 
November 14: 
 
- In Algiers city, three members of a terrorist financial 
support network were arrested.  Two of the suspected 
terrorists were located in Baraki and Sidi Moussa. 
 
- In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers), a terrorist 
support network was dismantled and five suspects arrested 
following a tip given by Abou Slimane, a 28-year-old 
suspected terrorist who was arrested by security forces. 
 
November 15: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security forces 
killed 22-year-old suspected GSPC terrorist Amrouche 
Yahia and recovered a weapon. 
 
- In Oran (370 miles west of Algiers), 300 bricks of 
cannabis were seized on National Road RN7 between 
Ghazaouate and Maghnia, and one person was arrested. 
 
November 16: 
- In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers), Police 
arrested five people involved in a prostitution ring. 
 
- In Algiers city, millions of dollars were lost by the 
Egyptian telecommunications company Djezzy after acts of 
vandalism that targeted its storefronts nationwide. 
 
- In Ain Defla (91 miles southwest of Algiers), a hotel 
 
hosting Egyptian employees of Elsweedy cable company and 
a local mob attacked a branch of Djezzy. 
 
November 17: 
 
- In Oran (270 miles of Algiers), the coast guard 
intercepted 12 illegal immigrants. A total of 38 
individuals were arrested within three days in Oran for 
illegal immigration. 
 
- In Tlemcen (362 miles of Algiers), the Gendarmerie opened 
fire on two drug traffickers who tried to evade the 
checkpoint.  One drug trafficker was killed, and the 
other escaped. Eighty-eight kilos of hashish were 
recovered in this operation. 
 
- In Illizi (1162 miles south of Algiers), the Gendarmerie 
Nationale arrested 113 illegal immigrants from different 
African countries. 
 
- In Tlemcen (362 miles west of Algiers), two Algerians 
working for the Egyptian company "Power Ring" were 
arrested for illegal possession of three kilos of white 
mercury, used to manufacture explosives or to counterfeit 
currency. 
 
November 18: 
 
- In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers), three communal 
guards were wounded in a bomb explosion.  The bomb was 
placed in the railway, targeting a freight train that 
passed a few minutes before the explosion. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security 
services dismantled a terrorist support network 
consisting of nine people belonging to "Katibet el-Ansar" 
and "el-Arkam." 
 
November 19: 
 
- In Medea (59 miles south of Algiers), terrorists 
assassinated two communal guards before fleeing into the 
Mekournou Mountains. 
 
- In Batna (271 miles southeast of Algiers), two terrorists 
were killed and two Kalashnikov rifles seized. 
 
- In Algiers, the Gendarmerie reported the seizure of 3.5 
tons of cannabis during a drug raid. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), military forces 
killed a terrorist in Ouled al-Hussein in Zemourri. 
 
- In Algiers city, the court acquitted Terari Mohamed and 
Abdelli Faghoul, former Guantanamo prisoners.  They had 
been charged with close association with a foreign 
terrorist group.  They denied these charges but admitted 
to being involved in drug trafficking while residing in 
Germany. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), two private 
security guards were injured in a bomb explosion. 
 
November 20: 
 
- In Algiers, Police arrested two terrorists from the "al- 
Fath" battalion in Bache Jarah.  The terrorists took 
advantage of the festive atmosphere following Algeria's 
World Cup qualification to visit their families in Bache 
Jarah, where they were arrested. 
 
- In Algiers, six terrorist suspects were presented to the 
court of el-Harrach.  The group was acting under the 
leadership of "al-Fath" battalion. 
 
- The Algerian Civil Protection Agency revealed that at 
least 18 Algerians died in various accidents following 
the football match between Algeria and Egypt. 
 
November 21: 
 
- In Algiers, the Gendarmerie reported the confiscation of 
49 different types of weapons and 241 cartridges of 
ammunition. 
 
- In Blida (31 miles southwest of Algiers,) a 20-year-old 
female was arrested after she was caught passing 
counterfeit 1000 DA banknotes. 
 
November 22: 
 
- In Algiers, the Gendarmerie Nationale reported the arrest 
of at least 23 minors in the past ten months who were 
reportedly involved in arms and explosives trafficking 
for the GSPC. 
 
- In Ain Defla (91 miles southwest of Algiers), during a 
major operation conducted by combined security forces, 
one terrorist was killed and another captured. 
 
November 23: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security sources 
reported that nine terrorist "emirs" were killed, among 
them Ben Tatraoui Omar, also known as "Yahiya Abou 
Khouthayma." 
 
November 24: 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security forces 
killed a terrorist  and recovered one weapon. 
November 27: 
 
- In Ghardaia (397 miles south of Algiers), the Judicial 
Police arrested six people in a registration card 
counterfeiting network. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), three terrorists 
and a soldier were killed during a full-scale operation 
launched by the Algerian army.  Several Kalashnikov 
rifles were recovered. 
November 28: 
 
- In Biskra (265 miles southeast of Algiers), two kilos of 
hashish were seized.  The investigation is ongoing. 
 
- In Constantine (270 miles southeast of Algiers), two 
terrorists were killed when security forces stormed their 
hideout. 
 
November 29: 
 
- In Oran (270 miles west of Algiers), 5.5 kg of kif were 
seized in Arzew.  One person was arrested in this operation. 
 
November 30: 
 
- Algiers: Security services reported the dismantling of 
three terrorist support networks.  Seven individuals were 
arrested when authorities received information from the 
father of a 24-year-old terrorist and from a former AQIM 
member. 
 
- In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), inhabitants of 
Bordj Menail blocked National Route 12 linking Algiers to 
Tizi Ouzou to demand the restoration and repair of the 
road connecting their village to the capital of the 
municipality. 
 
- In Bord Bou Ariridj (136 miles southeast of Algiers), 
hundreds of people blocked National Route 5 over poor 
living conditions. 
 
PEARCE