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 000543 
 
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) #16, 02/22/2006 
 
REF: ROME 511 
 
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 National Information 
Center for the Winter Olympics (CNIO), 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)  The eleventh day of Olympics sporting events 
concluded without disruption on 02/21/2006. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In advance of the Closing Ceremonies, OSOC 
representatives will conduct an Olympics security briefing 
for U.S sponsors, organizations, and businesses in Turin. 
The briefing will provide an update on the current security 
situation in Turin, an overview of logistical issues in 
advance of the Closing Ceremonies, and OSOC plans to support 
next month,s (March 10-19) Paralympic Games. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  The Olympic Games will end on 02/26/2006, following 
a celebratory weekend in Turin that includes the arrivals of 
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and the White House 
Delegation to the Closing Ceremonies, as well as an "Olympic 
Night" festival in which stores and restaurants will remain 
open late into the evening.  Due to the planned festivities, 
security in the city and around Olympic venues is expected to 
be tight.  OSOC is working with Italian counterparts to 
obtain information on additional security measures in place 
from 02/24/2006-02/26/2006. 
 
¶7. (SBU)  All elements of the USG presence in Turin are 
reviewing operations and security procedures for the upcoming 
Paralympics.  Though the footprint will be reduced for the 
Paralympics, OSOC will remain engaged in providing security, 
consular, public affairs, and logistics assistance to U.S. 
Paralympic sponsors, spectators, and athletes. 
 
SECURITY 
-------- 
 
Terrorist Activity/Threats: 
 
¶8. (S/NF)  Italian authorities remain alert for indications 
that terrorist organizations intend to target the Olympic 
Games.  There has been no update on previously reported 
potential terrorist activity elsewhere in Italy. 
 
¶9. (SBU)  OSOC learned through CNIO liaison that the jihadist 
website "Al-Meer Forum" posted a statement issued by the 
"Conquerors Army of Iraq" containing a generalized threat to 
Italy.  CNIO Interpol representatives stated that the posting 
was likely a reflection of the recent Italian t-shirt 
controversy and did not indicate a direct threat to the 
Olympic Games.  Subsequent review of open source reporting by 
OSOC confirmed that the Internet posting was indeed a 
response to the ongoing cartoon/t-shirt issue.  OSOC will 
continue to monitor reactions to the website, focusing on 
indications that individuals may pick up on the website,s 
call to action to plan protests or disruptions in Turin.  In 
conjunction with Italian counterparts, OSOC continually 
monitors the security environment for indications that 
cartoon-related unrest could spread to the Olympic theater. 
 
Demonstrations/Protests: 
 
¶10. (U)  OSOC is not aware of any demonstrations or protests 
scheduled to occur on 02/22/2006.  Italian authorities remain 
attuned to the potential for protests against the Olympics or 
in reaction to the cartoon controversy. 
 
Incidents: 
 
¶11. (SBU)  As reported in previous situation reports, hotel 
break-ins continue to occur in Turin.  OSOC has learned of 
rash of incidents targeting five hotels on 02/20/2006.  While 
American citizens have not yet been the victims of these 
crimes, many of the targeted hotels house U.S. Olympic 
sponsor corporations, their employees, and their guests. 
Specifically, on 02/20/2006, employees of Kodak reported the 
theft of a passport, money and a laptop computer from their 
rooms while they were attending an Olympic event.  The MOI 
has indicated to OSOC that they consider these incidents to 
be "inside jobs" as there is no sign of forced entry into the 
rooms.  OSOC notes that the perpetrators appear to be 
targeting hotels with no credential systems in place and with 
limited police presence in front of the facilities. Many of 
the affected hotels require guests to leave their keys at the 
reception desk when the guests depart the hotel, allowing 
perpetrators to identify the rooms that are unoccupied.  The 
MOI continues to investigate the thefts.  OSOC has alerted 
U.S. private sector representatives to the increased 
incidence of hotel-related thefts and will continue to work 
with U.S. Olympic sponsors to address security concerns at 
hotels and hospitality houses. 
 
¶12. (SBU)  On 02/21/2006, the MOI reported the theft of a 
TETRA radio to CNIO law enforcement representatives.  This 
incident is not viewed as a serious compromise of 
communications security, as Italian authorities have remotely 
deactivated the radio and removed it from the communications 
net to prevent its further usage.  In the event that 
authorities had not been able to deactivate the radio, the 
compromise in communications was still judged to be minor, as 
users can only access their assigned frequency and cannot 
monitor the transmissions of agencies on other frequencies. 
The MOI loaned 12 TETRA radios to OSOC for use during the 
Olympics--the stolen radio was not one of the units given to 
OSOC.  OSOC will follow-up with MOI to obtain additional 
details on the incident. 
 
 
SECURITY OPERATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU)  The MOI informed OSOC that Italian law enforcement 
has identified the anonymous caller who reported 
Olympics-related threat information on 02/17/2006, by tracing 
a second call made to law enforcement authorities.  According 
to the MOI, the individual is mentally unstable and has 
repeatedly placed calls to the local police in an effort to 
gain attention. 
 
¶14. (S/NF) According to recent reporting, foreign government 
officials are concerned that unknown individuals may be 
attempting to probe security operations at venues and other 
Olympic-related facilities.  Please refer to TD-314/12457-06 
for further information.  As reported in previous sitreps, 
OSOC has raised this concern with the MOI in reaction to the 
number of incidents involving suspicious packages left in 
public areas.  The Dutch Consul General, present in Turin for 
Olympics events, reported to U.S. Consul General that Italian 
security officials have responded quickly and effectively to 
requests for increased security at the Dutch sponsor 
hospitality venue. 
 
¶15. (S/NF) In an update on the arrest of a Tunisian national 
in Milan on 2/18/2006, Italian authorities have commented 
that the individual reportedly does not have any known 
connections to terrorism or Islamic extremism.  Refer to 
TD-314/12446-06 for additional information. 
 
¶16. (SBU) TSA reported to OSOC that Italian authorities will 
close the airspace around Turin on 02/26/2006 from 1800-2330 
hrs, in conjunction with the Closing Ceremonies.  The Italian 
Air Force has direct control of Turin airspace and is working 
closely with other Italian security entities to enhance 
security measures for end of the Olympics. 
 
VIPs 
---- 
 
¶17. (SBU)  The White House Delegation to the Closing 
Ceremonies will arrive in Turin on 02/24/2006.  Their current 
schedule indicates a full range of activities on 02/25/2006 
and 02/26/2006, including public appearances, MOI-hosted 
security briefing, press meetings, attendance at a USG-hosted 
reception, and attendance at the Closing Ceremonies on 
02/26/2006.  An additional member has now been added to the 
delegation.  PA continues to work with Italian media to 
schedule press coverage of the delegation,s visit. 
 
 
PENDING MATTERS 
--------------- 
 
¶18. (SBU) OSOC continues to work with Italian counterparts on 
the investigation of the theft of a TOROC vehicle pass.  In 
response to ongoing OSOC concerns about the use of the 
vehicle pass to bypass access controls, OSOC drivers are 
being asked to report on the security procedures they 
encounter when using vehicle passes to enter a venue or 
secure Olympic site. 
 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
------------------------------- 
 
¶19. (U) Italian media continues to give front-page focus to 
domestic politics.  Olympics-related coverage of sporting 
events remains straightforward and generally positive. 
 
¶20. (U) Italian dailies prominently featured the appearance 
of Prime Minister Berlusconi,s 02/21/2006 interview on 
al-Jazeera.  In the interview, Berlusconi calls for 
inter-religious dialogue and asks the Islamic nations for 
mutual respect.  He stated that he has spoken with Libyan 
President Gadhafi and that relations between Libya and Italy 
remain good.  Newspapers also focused on the fact that Libyan 
leaders have contradicted Italian Foreign Minister Fini,s 
comments that the recent attack against the Italian Consulate 
in Benghazi was the result of internal Libyan matters rather 
than the cartoon/t-shirt controversy. 
 
¶21. (U)  Olympics news continues to center on the Austrian 
Olympic Team doping scandal.  Two Austrian athletes have 
reportedly confessed to using illegal substances and the IOC 
has announced that it will initiate a special panel to 
investigate the doping allegations after the Games have ended. 
 
¶22. (U)  The U.S. Ambassador,s By-Liner exclusive to Italian 
daily La Stampa was captured in the paper,s special Olympics 
English supplemental.  Above the article is a photo of FLOTUS 
at the University of Turin book donation ceremony.  The 
By-Liner was also summarized in La Stampa,s Italian edition. 
 
¶23. (U) PA continues to monitor all press and to coordinate 
interview requests for the White House Delegation to the 
Closing Ceremonies.  Working with the USG Control Officer for 
the delegation,s visit, PA is planning a press availability 
meeting on 02/26/2006 for the delegation at the Turin 
Piemonte Media Center. (A similar press program was done for 
the FLOTUS delegation.)  Media presence is also being planned 
for the 02/25/2006 USG reception for the delegation.  PA is 
providing bios on the White House delegation to Italian 
press.  The Public Affairs Office in Turin may be reached at 
39-011-55-99-368. 
 
 
CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
---------------- 
 
¶24. (U) On 02/21/2006, CA received nine requests from 
American citizens (Amcits) for emergency services.  In one 
instance, a family of five whose passports had been stolen 
came to the Consular Office to apply for emergency passports. 
 Another Amcit retrieved his driver,s license and insurance 
card, which were turned into the Consular Office on 
02/20/2006; he stated that the items had been stolen while he 
was riding a bus.  Three additional Amcits, whose passports 
were lost or stolen, applied for emergency replacement 
passports. 
 
¶25. (U) On the evening of 02/21/2006, USOC informed CA and 
OSOC that a U.S. Olympic coach had been hospitalized for 
chest pains.  USOC indicated that no additional CA assistance 
was necessary at that time.  CA is following up to determine 
the coach,s status. 
 
¶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