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 05 ROME 000456 
 
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: 02/15/2016 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #9, 02/15/2006 
 
REF: ROME 0443 
 
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. 
 
¶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 used within 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 02/14/2006 without any 
disturbances.  The overall security posture for the Games 
remains high at all venues.  Of note is the intention of 
Italy's Reform Minister and member of anti-immigration 
northern league Robert Calderoli to manufacture and 
distribute t-shirts bearing the controversial cartoons of the 
Prophet Mohammed.  OSOC is monitoring reactions in local 
communities for possible impact on the security environment 
for the Winter Games.  The Italian press has not yet picked 
up on the recent White House announcement that former New 
York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be leading the 
Presidential Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies. 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
Terrorist Activity: 
 
¶5. (U) 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. 
 
Threats: 
 
¶6. (SBU) 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 closely monitored; Italian security forces are 
working with their international counterparts to diminish the 
potential for disruptions to the Games.  Anti-TAV 
demonstrators and anarchists have in the past gathered on 
short notice supporters from neighboring countries for 
violent demonstrations. 
 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
 
¶7. (SBU) The No-TAV symposiums that took place in close 
proximity to corporate venues and the medals plaza on 
02/14/2006 were largely uneventful; there were no reports of 
unrest or disturbances. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The MOI has reported to OSOC that there are no 
planned, offical demonstrations slated for the upcoming 
weekend.  MOI continues to monitor planning by anti-TAV and 
anarchist groups for demonstrations and meetings that could 
become disruptive. 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶9. (SBU) On 2/14/2006, the Director of Security for Jet Set 
Sports, a major Olympics travel package contractor, reported 
to OSOC that one of its drivers was car-jacked that afternoon 
while waiting for guests in front of a hotel in Milan (note: 
Car-jackings are rare in Milan).  In addition to the car, the 
perpetrators stole the victim,s wallet; however, the driver 
did manage to retain the vehicle,s TOROC access credentials. 
 Carabinieri officers recovered the stolen vehicle, 
undamaged, a few hours after the theft.  OSOC contacted RSO 
Milan to request assistance for the Jet Set Sports employee. 
RSO Milan has interviewed the (non-AmCit) victim and is 
actively monitoring the ongoing police investigation of the 
case; no arrests have been made yet. 
 
¶10. (SBU) On 02/14/2006, the daily newspaper La Stampa 
reported that Italian police apprehended an Iraqi citizen 
nine miles south of the Austrian border.  Initial indications 
suggest that the detainee may be a human trafficker. 
According to the Turin General Investigations and Special 
Operations Division (DIGOS) of the national police, the Iraqi 
was traveling with three female ethnic Chinese nationals, and 
was in possession of newspaper clippings of the Winter 
Olympics and receipts from Turin dated from December 2005. 
He also allegedly attempted to bribe security officials with 
4,000 Euros.  Italian authorities are attempting to determine 
the identity of the Iraqi national, who refused to be 
fingerprinted.  OSOC is liaising with Italian counterparts 
and has offered its assistance, to include conducting record 
checks. 
 
¶11. (U) According to the popular newspaper La Repubblica, on 
02/14/2006, the temporary Spanish Consulate in Turin received 
a telephonic bomb threat.  The building housing the facility 
was evacuated and searched; no suspicious items were found 
and all occupants were allowed to return to work.  OSOC is 
attempting to confirm this report. 
 
¶12. (S/REL to US, AUS, CAN and GBR) Electro-optical imagery 
from 02/13/2006 shows that a RyanAir commercial airliner came 
within .3 kilometers of the Cesana San Sicario Fraiteve 
Women's Olympic Alpine Skiing venue, violating the no-fly 
zone restrictions in place for the Games.  No official events 
were taking place at the time of the infraction.  The Olympic 
Joint Fusion Center at the U.S. National Counterterrorism 
Center (NCTC) has assessed this incident as benign in nature. 
 
¶13. (SBU) MOI officials advised OSOC of a spike in the number 
of suspicious packages discovered near corporate venues.  The 
MOI attributes the increase to a heightened degree of 
security awareness on the part of police and venue security 
officials.  MOI contacts noted that some of the suspicious 
packages were empty, causing some speculation that they may 
have been used to gauge the response of security personnel. 
OSOC and OSAC continue to liaise with U.S. corporate sponsors 
and Italian authorities to ensure that this type of police 
vigilance continues for the remainder of the Olympics. 
 
¶14. (U) Italian authorities have relayed to OSOC that 
mountain venues will open two hours earlier for the remainder 
of the Games to ease traffic problems that have prevented 
visitors from reaching Olympics sites in a timely manner. 
 
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. 
¶16. (SBU) The Ministry of Interior advised OSOC that it is 
addressing previously identified shortfalls in venue security 
by bolstering certain measures, particularly in the areas of 
screening and perimeter security. 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶17. (SBU) Daughter Barbara Bush is scheduled to depart Turin 
for Washington, D.C., on 02/15/2006 at 1245 hours via a 
commercial flight. 
¶18. (SBU) The White House has announced that former New York 
City mayor Rudolph Giuliani, renowned race car driver Mario 
Andretti, the Director of the National Italian-American 
Foundation, Dr. Cingoli, and U.S. Ambassador Ronald Spogli, 
will head the official U.S. delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies.  Italian media has not yet published information 
related to this announcement.  PA is working with local media 
outlets to ensure wide public coverage of the delegation. 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶19. (U) The theft of a TOROC vehicle pass remains unresolved. 
 OSOC continues to raise this issue with its Italian 
counterparts, stressing the possible security implications of 
the missing pass. 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶20. (SBU) Reuters Press and other media outlets are reporting 
that Italy,s Reform Minister Robert Calderoli has had 
t-shirts made emblazoned with the controversial cartoons of 
the Prophet Mohammed.  Calderoli, a member of the 
anti-immigration Northern League Party, told the Italian wire 
service Ansa on 2/14/2006 that the West has to stand up 
against Islamist extremists, and offered to hand out the 
t-shirts to anyone who wanted them.  OSOC will closely 
monitor reaction to Calderoli,s statements from the local 
Muslim community, including any potential impact on the 
Olympic Games. 
 
¶21. (U) The following is a summary of media activity for 
02/15/2006: 
 
- The front pages of Italian newspapers area dominated by 
domestic politics, with nominal mention of Olympics, 
particularly the performance of Italian athletes.  Reports 
regarding the monitoring of the Avian flu continue. 
 
- Italian press is reporting U.S. speedskater Joey Cheeks's 
intention to donate the prize money from his gold medal 
performance in the men's 500 meters to a charity benefiting 
children in Darfur, Sudan. 
 
- Italian major circulation press notes that the most recent 
issue of Time Magazine features a positive review of the 
Olympic Games under the headline "Bravissimo Torino!" 
 
- Italian media has not published any further stories on 
Barbara Bush. 
 
¶22. (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 
---------------- 
 
¶23. (U) On 02/14/2006, three U.S. citizens reported their 
passports stolen.  Separately, an American notified the 
Consular Section that his credit cards had been pilfered, 
while another U.S. national requested information on local 
attorneys to assist in a dispute with a Turin hotel. 
¶24. (U) On behalf of the Consular Section, OSOC is providing 
assistance in locating an American citizen in Turin who has 
not contacted family members in more than two weeks. 
 
¶25. (U) The Consular Section has learned that local police 
briefly detained and fined five individuals, including two 
Americans, for not having the appropriate licenses to sell 
Olympics merchandise; no formal arrests were made. The 
Consular Section has provided a list of local lawyers to the 
Americans in the event they require legal assistance. 
 
¶26. (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