This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ROME 000443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
 
PASS TO TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (TSA) AND 
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO); DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR 
S/ES-O, S/CT, EUR, DS, AND CA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT:   TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS - USG SITUATION 
REPORT (SITREP) #8, 02/14/2006 
 
REF: ROME 0429 
 
Classified By: Deborah Graze, Consul General Milan for reason 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) The following cable provides information on 
security, public diplomacy, and consular activities in Turin, 
Italy for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games as of 02/14/2006. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The interagency Olympic Security Coordination (OSC) 
Office can be contacted on a 24-hour basis at the following 
numbers: 
 
USG Joint Operations Center (JOC): 39-011-55-99-793/794/564 
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax); 
 
USG Threat Integration Center (TIC): 39-011-55-99-790/791 
(tel); 011-39-011-55-99-590 (fax). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Attached is a key for USG acronyms that are used in 
this cable: the inter-agency Olympic Security Coordination 
Office (OSC); the USG inter-agency Olympic Security 
Operations Center (OSOC), including the 24/7 Joint Operations 
Center (JOC) and Threat Integration Center (TIC); the 
Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC); the National 
Information Center for the Winter Olympics (CINO), which is a 
Government of Italy (GOI) hosted multinational center; the 
Turin Olympics Organizing Committee (TOROC); the 
International Olympics Committee (IOC); the US Olympic 
Committee (USOC); the Transportation Security Administration 
(TSA); Public Affairs/Public Diplomacy (PA/PD); Consular 
Affairs (CA); and the Italian Ministry of Interior (MOI). 
 
KEY EVENTS 
---------- 
 
¶4. (U) Olympic events transpired on 02/13/2006 without 
disruption.  The overall security posture for the Games 
remains high at all public venues. 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
¶5. (U) Terrorist Activity: No activity has been identified. 
Italian officials remain vigilant for indications of 
terrorist operations.  OSOC personnel are available for 
immediate recall to supplement existing 24/7 JOC and TIC 
staff should an Olympics-related incident occur. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Threats: There is no credible, specific information 
suggesting that terrorists intend to target the Olympic 
Games.  Italian law enforcement authorities remain on high 
alert for suspicious activity throughout Italy despite the 
lack of a known terrorist threat.  The actions of activist 
groups opposed to the Olympics and the TAV (high-speed train) 
continue to be of concern; Italian security forces are 
working with their international counterparts to diminish the 
potential for disruptions to the Games. 
¶7. (S/NF) Please see TD-314/10380-06 for reporting on imams 
in Turin supporting the Olympic Games and evident acceptance 
by the local Muslim community. 
 
DEMONSTRATIONS/PROTESTS 
----------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) An official of the Forest Police has informed OSOC 
that authorities are investigating the possibility that 
No-TAV supporters may attempt to attack one or more Olympic 
venues by throwing paint.  At this juncture, there are no 
additional details regarding the specific time or place of 
such attacks, or exactly how the paint would be used.  OSOC 
is working with Italian authorities to obtain further 
information. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has reported that a 
resident anarchist is to be tried in a local court for 
allegedly setting fire to three garbage cans earlier in the 
year.  Although the trial has no connection to the Olympics, 
the MOI is concerned that supporters of the detainee may 
assemble to protest the proceedings.  The OSOC liaison to the 
MOI is currently attempting to determine the date and 
location of the hearing. 
 
¶10. (U) OSOC plans to monitor two sessions of a "No-TAV" 
symposium at Palazzo Nuovo scheduled for 1730 and 2100 hours 
on 02/14/2006.  The TAV is the European high-speed train that 
has prompted  demonstrations in weeks prior to Olympics, some 
of which involved destructive activity by anarchists. 
 
INCIDENTS 
--------- 
 
¶11. (U) In a follow-up to previously reported information, La 
Repubblica provided additional details of how the Italian 
postal police successfully thwarted a cyber attack on the 
TOROC computer system.  According to the report, an employee 
of the company responsible for providing systems maintenance 
for TOROC has been accused of possessing false credentials in 
an attempt to gain unauthorized access, possibly to carry out 
the attack.  OSOC has confirmed this account with the MOI, 
who also noted that the alleged hacker is an Italian citizen. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Italian law enforcement officials informed OSOC 
that on 02/12/2006, a large, unattended suitcase was 
discovered at the parking entrance to the Turin Palace, which 
houses NBC,s headquarters in Turin.  The package was 
x-rayed, determined to be safe, and removed. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Italian authorities at Torino Caselle Airport 
detained two individuals, a U.S. citizen and Nigerian 
national, who attempted to pick up a suspicious shipment 
marked with Arabic characters.  OSOC conducted record checks 
for both parties with negative results on the American, and 
shared the information with Italian counterparts.  OSOC, 
working with Italian authorities, also determined that the 
suspect material was of a religious nature and represented no 
threat.  Both men were subsequently released. 
 
¶14. (U) OSOC provided assistance to the family of a U.S. 
athlete injured during the luge competition.  On-site field 
liaison agents collected family members and facilitated their 
transportation to the hospital where the athlete was being 
treated.  The USOC has conveyed its appreciation to OSOC for 
its actions. 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶15. (SBU)  USG security activities - ongoing liaison with 
host government entities, Olympics security officials, US 
corporate security and the USSS security detail - continue on 
a daily basis. 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶16. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush remains in Turin on private 
travel, and is expected to depart on 02/15/2006.  On 
02/14/2006, she is scheduled to attend Olympic events. 
 
¶17. (SBU) The MOI has advised that there are currently 23 
international VIPs in Turin, including 4 heads of state, 5 
members of royal families, and 13 government ministers. 
There are no U.S. officials identified. 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶18. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved. 
 OSOC continues to interact with Italian counterparts 
regarding security concerns related to the missing pass. 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶19. (U) The following is a summary of media reports for 
02/14/2006: 
 
- The local edition of La Stampa carried an article on 
Barbara Bush's activities in Turin, accompanied by a 
photograph and caption of woman wrongly identified as the 
President's daughter. 
 
- Il Foglio features an article entitled "Torinistan and the 
Olympic Truce," which describes the separation between the 
Islamic and non-Islamic communities in Turin under normal 
times.  The article highlights the apparent invisibility of 
the Muslim community during the Olympics.  The piece 
describes the activities, institutions and personalities in 
the Turin Islamic community, noting that the city continues 
to be a popular political venue for major Italian Islamic 
leaders. 
 
- Il Messaggero contains a report stating that the Italian 
media has carried far less positive coverage of the Olympic 
Games in comparison to American media outlets. 
 
- In article similar to report noted above in La Repubblica, 
the business-focused newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore is also 
reporting on the thwarted attempt of an Italian national to 
break into TOROC's computer systems.  Reporting indicates 
that TOROC's system has run perfectly since the onset of the 
Games. 
 
- Most media sources focus on domestic politics and general 
election campaign, highlighting opposition leader Romano 
Prodi's declared support for the construction of the TAV, 
despite protests in region near Turin supported by far-left 
coalition partners. 
 
¶20. (U) PA continues to work with USOC and others to schedule 
interviews with US athletes for the Italian press.  The 
Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶21. (U) Consular employees successfully resolved a welfare 
and whereabouts (W/W) case involving two American citizens. 
The two Americans experienced transportation delays after 
Olympic events and local police facilitated their return to 
hotels. 
 
¶22.  (U) Consular section received three emergency passports 
produced in Consulate Milan; consular staff is in the process 
of distributing these passports to previously-reported 
customers. 
 
¶22. (U) The Consular Office may be contacted at the following 
numbers: 011-5599-330 (tel.); 011-5599-551 (fax).  Additional 
information may be found at http://milan.usconsulate.gov. 
 
SPOGLI