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 000473 
 
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: X1 
TAGS: ASEC CASC CMGT ECON IT KOLY OVIP PTER OLYMPICS
SUBJECT: TURIN 2006 WINTER OLYMPICS: USG SITUATION REPORT 
(SITREP) #10, 02/16/2006 
 
REF: ROME 456 
 
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 02/15/2006 without 
disturbances.  The overall security posture for the Games 
remains high at all venues and Italian authorities remain 
alert to attempts by opposition groups to protest and disrupt 
events.  Regarding the recent publication by international 
media of additional prisoner abuse photos at Abu Ghraib 
prison, OSOC is monitoring local coverage of the photos and 
is working with Italian counterparts to identify any change 
to the security environment in Turin due to the photos, 
publication. 
 
 
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 and continue to work with their international 
counterparts to monitor the actions of anti-Olympics activist 
groups. 
 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
¶7. (S/NF) Please see TD-314/10977-06 for information 
regarding the Italian authorities continuing efforts to 
monitor anarchists and anti-globalization groups in Turin. 
The cable also provides details regarding possible "No-TAV" 
and anti-globalization activities for the forthcoming 
weekend.  OSOC continues to work with Italian law enforcement 
to obtain information on ongoing anarchist activities 
throughout the Olympic theater. 
 
¶8. (U) Independent Media Center (Indymedia.org), which has 
previously provided schedules and information on 
anti-Olympics protests, has invited activists to an "evening 
on the dark side of the Olympics" on 02/16/2006 near the 
Humanist House, an organization that promotes human rights 
through nonviolent means.  The planned meeting will include 
comment by the author of the book "Power Games," which claims 
that the Olympics violate human rights and promote the 
enrichment of multi-national corporations rather than 
regional development. The event venue is not located adjacent 
to any Olympic venues or sites of interest.  OSOC continues 
to work in conjunction with Italian law enforcement entities 
to identify and monitor activist events related to the 
Olympics. 
 
¶9. (U) The global grassroots movement Critical Mass is 
planning a bicycle-ride/demonstration in Turin on 02/18/2006. 
 Critical Mass is a pro-alternative-transportation and 
anti-pollution movement.  During its events, a number of 
cyclists converge on a location at a predetermined time, then 
ride slowly through busy city streets, essentially bringing 
traffic to a standstill.  Critical Mass rides are generally 
peaceful, although rides in some cities have provoked 
confrontation from vehicle drivers or police.  OSOC is 
interacting with Italian counterparts to obtain information 
on the bike route to be used by Critical Mass. 
 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶10. (U) According to the daily newspaper La Stampa, a bomb 
scare occurred at Turin,s Caselle airport on 02/15/2006, 
after police were alerted to an unattended backpack in the 
parking lot.  Police blocked off the area and explosive 
ordnance disposal (EOD) unit personnel responded to the 
scene.  The EOD inspected the bag and found it to contain 
popcorn.  OSOC had been previously alerted to this incident 
by USG representative based at Turin,s Caselle airport. 
 
¶11. (U)The internet version of La Stampa reported that on 
02/14/2006, two Italian fighter jets intercepted an aircraft 
that was taking aerial photographs for NBC in restricted 
airspace.  The incident reportedly occurred while the Men,s 
Downhill-Slalom Combined event was taking place.  Separately, 
Italian Ministry of Interior officials have commented to OSOC 
CINO liaison that yesterday,s overflight activity (reported 
in sitrep) was routine and not cause for alarm. 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The Italian Ministry of Interior, with support from 
Turin,s chief of police, has provided OSOC with TETRA 
radios.  These radios give USG field liaison officers 
capability to utilize the existing Italian law enforcement 
TETRA communications system, and supplement existing comms. 
 
¶13. (U)  Italian security forces continue to evaluate their 
Olympic security posture in order to identify potential 
vulnerabilities.  According to Naples-based daily Il Mattino, 
in preparation for the Olympics, all participants and vendors 
were required to submit their names and identification in 
order to be accredited.  The report asserts that the bus 
drivers who transport athletes and trainers were not required 
to give this information to officials prior to the start of 
the Games.  After speaking with Ministry of Interior (MOI) 
counterparts, OSOC CINO liaison notes that this report 
appears uncorroborated, as bus drivers were vetted prior to 
the Olympics.  OSOC CINO liaison will continue to pursue the 
matter with the MOI to determine whether the news report 
identified a true security gap. 
 
¶14. (SBU)  On the heels of the Prophet Mohammad cartoon 
controversy, OSOC is focused on repercussions of the recent 
release of new photos showing prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib 
prison in Iraq. OSOC is monitoring all source information for 
any indication of anti-US threats stemming from the 
publication of the photos.  Operationally, OSOC 
representatives are interacting with Italian counterparts to 
monitor the local response to the photos and to ensure that 
U.S. security concerns are being addressed. 
 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶15. (SBU)  Daughter Barbara Bush departed Turin without 
incident on 02/15/2006. 
 
¶16. (SBU)  The White House delegation for the Closing 
Ceremonies, led by former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is 
scheduled to arrive in Turin late on the evening of 
02/24/2006.  On 02/25/2006, the delegation will participate 
in a reception hosted by the USG and on 02/26/2006, they will 
attend the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games.  The 
delegation is currently scheduled to depart Turin immediately 
after the Closing Ceremonies.  To date, there has been no 
Italian press coverage of the delegation.  The delegation,s 
public schedule is still in development. 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
¶17. (U) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on 
the investigation of and mitigating security measures 
regarding the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶18. (U) Overall press coverage on 02/16/2006 focused on 
domestic Italian politics, with news on the Abu Ghraib prison 
photos dominating the front pages.  Olympics-related 
reporting continues to gain prominent coverage, with articles 
focused primarily on the sporting events themselves. 
 
¶19. (U) The following is a summary of media activity for 
02/16/2006: 
 
--La Stampa reported that stones thrown at the USOC-sponsored 
USA House broke windows on the building.  According to the 
article, with several theories about who threw the stones. 
The facts, according to OSOC liaison with Italian authorities 
indicate that an individual three times ejected from the USA 
House compound threw a stone, with no damage resulting, after 
jumping the fence in response to being expelled from the 
premises. 
 
--National newspaper Il Giornale published a portrait of a 
woman who is allegedly directing USG security operations at 
the Olympics for the FBI.  OSOC does not recognize the 
individual as a USG employee.  The paper also commented that 
satellite security coverage of the Olympics is working well. 
 
--La Repubblica and most newspapers reported that Prime 
Minister Berlusconi has asked for the resignation of the 
Italian Reform Minister Calderoli, who announced he would 
wear T-shirts emblazoned with the controversial cartoons of 
the Prophet Mohammad. 
 
--La Repubblica also reported that on 02/18/2006, protesters 
will conduct a pro-Palestinian/pro-Iraqi march through Rome. 
The groups conducting the march are fringe elements of the 
far left that are not recognized by the extreme left parties 
of the opposition coalition; the march appears to be 
exclusive to Rome and is not expected to impact on operations 
in Turin. 
¶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)  CA had no requests for passport assistance on 
02/15/2006.   Consulate General Milan issued an emergency 
passport using an application approved by the Consular Office 
in Turin.  The passport will be delivered to Turin on 
02/16/2006. 
 
¶22. (U)  On 02/15/2006, CA worked with Turin police to gain 
information about a second detention of alleged American 
citizens.  Police officers investigating reports of Olympic 
tickets being sold without proper licenses detained all 
people present in a downtown store*including the potential 
Amcits.  CA has requested a copy of the police report naming 
the individuals involved in order to verify their citizenship 
and, if appropriate, provide them with a list of local 
attorneys. 
 
¶23. (U)  CA has received a report from the Italian police 
that confirms the information on the arrest of American 
citizens previously reported via in the sitrep dated 
02/14/2006.  Police indicated that three of the four detained 
individuals produced U.S. passports, while the fourth 
possessed a U.S. resident card.  All were released and one 
person received a fine.  An interpreter and an attorney were 
provided to the Amcits. 
 
¶24. (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