VZCZCXRO1123
RR RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCG #0530/01 2391211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271211Z AUG 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1151
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2724
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0831
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5101
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1356
RUEHCG/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENNAI 000530 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M S/CT, CA, INR AND DS/IP/SCA 
NEW DELHI FOR RSO 
MUMBAI FOR RSO 
KOLKATA FOR CG AND ADM/PSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC ASEC PGOV PREL KTER IN
SUBJECT:  HYDERABAD BOMBING UPDATE AND EAC MEETING REPORT 
 
Ref:  Chennai 525 
 
CHENNAI 00000530  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) On August 27, 2007 the RSO convened an EAC meeting to 
discuss and update members on new information surrounding the 
bombings in Hyderabad on Saturday, August 25. The meeting was 
attended by Pol/Econ, PAS, FCS, and FCS. The meeting was chaired by 
the Acting Consul General from PAS. The EAC discussed the following 
update to reftel: 
 
¶2. (SBU) There is no information indicating that any U.S. citizens 
were victims of the two August 25 bomb blasts in Hyderabad that 
killed and injured dozens. 
 
-- Two high-level police officials told Post that 40 people were 
killed and 54 injured (some critically).  They confirmed the report 
we received (reftel) from the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's office 
that none of the victims were foreigners. 
 
-- A local Telugu-language newspaper published the names of 42 
victims killed in the attacks.  ConGen Chennai's Consular Section is 
checking consular databases to verify that none of the victims were 
Amcits. 
 
-- The police also told Post that 11 of those killed were Muslim and 
that the rest were Hindu. 
 
¶3. (SBU) A high-ranking police official told Post that the police 
defused a third device under a footbridge in the Dilsukhnagar 
district. 
 
-- The same official said media reports stating that the police have 
found as many as 19 unexploded bombs are incorrect. 
 
-- They also said that these devices were cruder than the bomb that 
exploded in Hyderabad on May 18 (The police also defused two bombs 
on that day).  These devices used a timed detonator and ammonium 
nitrate as the explosive; the May bombing was a TNT-laden device 
detonated by cellular phone. 
 
¶4. (SBU) South Indian states are stepping up security in response to 
the Hyderabad bombings. 
 
-- A top Tamil Nadu Law and Order Department official told Post the 
Indian government had issued alerts in the wake of the Hyderabad 
bombings to all state governments to step up security precautions. 
He said that Tamil Nadu has set up new police pickets, increased its 
monitoring of transit points, and stepped up security around places 
of religious importance and VIP presence.  Tamil Nadu's Chief 
Minister has called a meeting of police chiefs and other security 
officials Monday to review security measures. 
 
-- A Kerala police official told us the state has tightened security 
in line with the national government's alert but noted that there 
currently are no Kerala-specific threats. 
 
-- A Karnataka Law and Order Department official told us that his 
state's police have also stepped up monitoring of railways and bus 
stations, but lamented that there was little actionable intelligence 
about the alleged perpetrators. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Political parties have called for general strikes, known in 
India as "bandhs," which require people to remain off the streets. 
In the past, calls for bandhs have sometimes been enforced with 
violence. 
 
-- On August 27, the BJP call for a bandh.  A consulate officer 
visiting Hyderabad reported that, despite the call for a bandh, the 
airport is open and that most businesses in Hyderabad appear to be 
operating normally. 
 
-- A police official in charge of the area where many U.S. companies 
have facilities told us that the bandh was not affecting the 
companies in that area, noting that the police presence there has 
been stepped up. 
 
¶6.  (U) Representatives of U.S. businesses told post that the 
bombings have affected their operations.  They said the bombings are 
not likely to impact future investments but that they expect the 
government of Andhra Pradesh to take concrete steps to improve the 
security situation. 
 
¶7. (U) Principal Officer spoke with the Principal Secretary to the 
 
CHENNAI 00000530  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on August 26 to convey condolences 
to the people of Andhra Pradesh. 
 
¶8. (U) The EAC will continue to monitor this situation and will 
report any significant developments. 
 
HOPPER