P 052030Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7813
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
FBI WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000284 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR DS/ITA, DS/IP, DS/ATA, S/CT AND WHA/BSC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC PTER PA
SUBJECT: FAKE BOMB CAUSES DOWNTOWN CONFUSION 
 
REF: ASUNCION 261 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  At approximately 8:30 am on May 5, 2009, 
the Paraguayan police located what appeared to be an 
improvised explosive device (IED) in downtown Asuncion. 
After securing the area, the Government of Paraguay (GOP) 
requested U.S. Government assistance.  RSO, FBI and SOCFWD 
elements responded to the scene and provided technical 
assistance.  At 11:30 am, the device was disabled via use of 
a DS/ATA-provided water cannon.  Subsequent examination by 
the RSO and SOCFWD experts revealed that the bomb was a fake 
- expertly made to look real.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (SBU) DETAILS: At approximately 8:30 am on May 5, 2009, 
police located what appeared to be an IED on the ledge of a 
business owned by Gustavo SABA - a well-known businessman 
with ties to Syria and Russia.  The area was evacuated and a 
perimeter of 100 meters set.  At 9:00 am the Vice Minister of 
Interior called the RSO to ask for assistance. (NOTE:  Three 
minutes before the Vice Minister called, the news media 
reported the GOP had asked the U.S. Embassy for assistance. 
END NOTE).  The Vice Minister specifically asked whether the 
Embassy possessed equipment to move the bomb from one 
location to another.  RSO spoke with SOCFWD and determined 
that we did not possess the correct equipment. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Vice Minster then asked the RSO to join him, the 
Minister of Interior and the Chief of Police at the scene. 
After speaking with Ambassador and DCM, RSO requested that 
explosives experts from SOCFWD and the FBI accompany him to 
the scene. 
 
¶4. (SBU) After analyzing photographs taken of the device by 
Paraguayan special operations police (FOPE), the decision was 
made to detonate the device using a water cannon and blasting 
cap.  The FOPE used the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) 
suit and water cannon provided by DS/ATA last year in order 
to detonate the device.  At 11:30 am, after evacuating nearby 
buildings, the device was harmlessly deactivated. 
 
¶5. (SBU) While there were reports of one of more additional 
devices, none were found. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Minister of Interior asked for U.S. assistance 
analyzing the apparent bomb and at 3:00 pm, RSO, FBI and 
SOCFWD inspected the remains of the device.  Using the GE 
Itemiser and analyzing the remnants, the device appeared to 
contain no explosives.  The device was made of industrial 
batteries held together by wire sautered onto the battery 
receptors.  RSO informed the Chief of Police of the finding. 
The police displayed an interest in keeping this information 
temporarily quiet in hopes that an organization would claim 
responsibility. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Minister of Interior and his team also requested 
U.S. assistance obtaining more sophisticated EOD equipment to 
include an EOD robot.  The GOP is prepared to pay for the 
equipment, but would like assistance in obtaining it 
immediately. 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT:  Although there have been no claims of 
responsibility for today - or last week's (reftel) - 
incident, many theories abound.  The most prevalent theory is 
that the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) is behind the April 
29 bombing and today's fake bomb.  Others believe that 
opposition elements led by former coup-plotter General Oviedo 
seek to diminish confidence in Lugo's administration.  Most 
improbably, others believe Lugo himself is behind the chaos 
in order to distract from his own scandals and consolidate 
power.  While the investigation goes on, the U.S. Embassy 
will continue to offer assistance when asked. 
 
Please visit us at     http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion 
 
AYALDE