VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #1007/01 3160921
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120921Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8095
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 1035
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1976

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS, DS/DSS, SDERCC, S/CT, S/ES- 
O, DS/ICI/PII, DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/FPO, NEA/EX. NEA/MAG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PTER PINS ASEC AG
SUBJECT:  AUGUST 2009 SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND 
SIGNIFICANT SECURITY INCIDENTS 
 
REFS: A) Algiers 00605 
 B) Algiers 00667 
 
¶1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION:  This cable is a summary of 
major security-related activities, terrorist 
threats, and incidents for Algeria during the month 
of August 2009.  The information was obtained from 
open sources, news reports, and RSO police contacts. 
Press-based information should not be taken as exact 
or definitive but can be used to track countrywide 
patterns and trends.  Reported activities are 
maintained in a master database utilized by the RSO 
in formulating guidelines for life safety and travel 
within Algeria.  Please note that Algerian media 
frequently still refer to al-Qa?ida in the Islamic 
Maghreb (AQIM) by its previous name, the Salafist 
Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).  End 
introduction. 
 
¶2. (U) Terrorist-specific trends:  With 44 deaths, 
August was the second deadliest month thus far in 
2009 for security forces in Algeria (surpassed only 
by 66 security force deaths in June).  As a possible 
indication of the heightened level of security 
during the holy month of Ramadan, security forces 
exceeded all other months this year in the number of 
terrorists killed (90)during full-scale operations 
throughout the country, most notably in Tizi Ouzou 
(64 miles east of Algiers) and Jijel (224 miles east 
of Algiers).  In the city of Algiers, a bomb was 
discovered on August 29 behind a public bus stop, 
and a member of the "el-Fatah" battalion was 
arrested. 
 
The Kabylie region (which includes the wilayas of 
Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Bouira, Bordj Bou 
Arreridj, as well as the mountainous areas of Jijel, 
M?Sila, Medea, and Setif) continues to be the most 
dynamic area in terms of AQIM activities and host 
government actions.  Algerian police expressed 
concern and surprise regarding the successful AQIM 
operation in the Tipaza wilaya (located just west of 
the capital city) that occurred in late July but for 
which AQIM claimed responsibility in early August. 
 
3.(U) Civil Unrest/Riot:  The Annaba region of 
Algeria experienced two significant protests this 
month in response to severe flooding and consistent 
power outages/blackouts that plagued the region 
throughout the summer. 
 
The first protest reported on August 5th targeted the 
local utilities company Sonelgaz.  Protestors 
managed to completely block Route RN44, a roadway 
connecting Annaba to El Tarf via the Rabah Bitat 
airport.  The second protest reported on August 25 
involved over one-hundred separate demonstrations 
throughout the region?s cities to include Oued 
Forche, Ausas Val Mascort, Seybouse, and others. 
Throughout a period of 24 hours, protestors flooded 
the streets, setting old tree trunks and tires 
ablaze throughout the day and night. 
 
Monthly statistics are as follows: 
 
Bombings:  18 
Civilian deaths:  9 
Wounded Security force members:  15 
Kidnappings:  5 
Terrorists arrested/surrendered:  36 
False roadblocks:  1 
Armed robberies:  3 
Protests/Riots:  3 
 
¶3. (U) DETAILS: Below please find detailed local 
news reports of select terrorist/security-related 
incidents throughout the month of August. 
 
August 01: 
- A statement attributed to the media committee of 
al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and 
published by al-Fajr Media Center was posted 
claiming responsibility for an attack on an Algerian 
army (ANP) convoy "on the state road connecting 
Damous and el-Abadia, exactly north of the Beni 
 
Mileuk municipality (Tipaza Province)."  The attack 
was led by Shaykh Abi-Tamam Abdal Hafiz and resulted 
in the deaths of at least 15 soldiers (see Algiers 
00770). 
- The ANP killed 15 terrorists during an air raid 
that targeted terrorist hideouts in the mountains of 
Batna.  This operation took place in the following 
regions:  Kimel, Taffrante, Zwaye in Arisse, and the 
forest of Lareba, in the southeast of the wilaya of 
Batna. 
- The ANP, along with communal guards, conducted a 
search operation in the forest area that borders the 
wilayas of Bejaia and Bordj Bou-Arreridj.  During 
the operation, troops succeeded in killing the 
alleged mastermind of the ambush against the 
gendarmerie in Bordj Bou-Arreridj on June 17 (see 
Algiers 00667). 
 
August 03: 
- The ANP killed eight terrorists in the mountains 
of Chelala, in the communities of Oudi el-Mah, 
Merouana, and Seryana during an air raid. 
 
- The ANP killed two terrorists and recovered two 
weapons (Kalashnikovs) during a military operation 
through the forests of Timzirte and Yassre.  The 
army was searching for a terrorist support network 
in the municipality of Timzirte. 
 
August 05: 
- In the municipality of Beni Amrane, in the south 
of the wilaya of Boumerdes (31 miles from Algiers), 
the ANP surrounded 16 terrorists from Katibat el- 
Djerrah after demolishing their hideouts.  This 
military operation took place after a sweep of the 
forest of Oued Djenane in Beni Amrane.  One of the 
most important terrorist hideouts was destroyed. 
 
- In the mountainous region combining Mechatte and 
Beni Forkane in Mila and Ouled Boufaha in Jijel (224 
miles  east of Algiers), the ANP destroyed several 
hideouts that were used by armed terrorist groups 
that continue to be active in those regions and 
defused several bombs created by the salafist 
terrorists. 
 
-After an entire summer plagued with frequent 
blackouts and power outages, hundreds of Algerians 
in Seybouse (approximately five miles from the 
capital of Annaba) took to the streets to protest 
the local electric company Sonelgaz. Protestors 
managed to gridlock RN44, a roadway connecting 
Annaba to el-Tarf via Rabah Bitat airport. 
 
August 07: 
- Security forces killed a terrorist during an 
ambush in the village of Mazer, near the 
municipality of Mizrana, about 30 kilometers 
northeast of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east 
of Algiers). Additionally, four terrorists were 
killed in Ait Melloul between the municipalities of 
Boukhelifa and Tichy, about 15 kilometers east of 
the wilaya of Bejaia. The Kalashnikovs of these four 
terrorists were recovered. A soldier was killed in 
the ambush. 
 
August 08: 
- The ANP destroyed two terrorist shelters of the 
terrorists still active in the region.  In addition, 
two charred terrorists corpses were found after an 
air bombing in the mountains of a region called 
Koufi, in Beni Zayde, west of Skikda. 
 
- Two soldiers were killed and four injured in the 
explosion of a bomb at the east entrance of Swanine 
in the municipality of Sidi Daoud. 
 
August 09: 
- Security forces in the village of Ait Ouabane in 
the municipality of Akbil, located some 60 
kilometers southeast of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64 
miles east of Algiers), surrounded a major terrorist 
group composed of at least a dozen armed Islamists. 
The armed Islamists were discovered in their 
hideouts after an intense air raid that had targeted 
 
the suspected area. 
 
August 10: 
- The residents of Mechtrasse, located 40 kilometers 
to the south of the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou (64 miles 
east of Algiers), stopped an attempted carjacking in 
Ihessnawene on the road that leads to the 
municipality of Souk Itnine.  The attack occurred on 
Friday evening, when a terrorist group composed of 
three persons blocked the path of the car by using 
weapons.  A group of over 20 young people stopped 
the attempt. 
August 11: 
- AQIM leader Abdel Malek Droudkel held a meeting 
with the emirs of AQIM katibas (variously translated 
as either brigades or battalions) in the forest of 
Akefadou, situated between the wilaya of Jijel and 
Bejaia, to draw up new attack plans for Ramadan 
¶2009.  Similar meetings occurred in Boumerdes prior 
to Ramadan in 2007 and 2008. 
 
- In the municipality of Ben Choud, east of the 
wilaya of Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), 
negotiations continued between terrorists and the 
family of a 27-year-old man kidnapped at the 
beginning of August.  The terrorists demanded a 
ransom of one billion dinars (about USD 14 million) 
for his release. 
 
- The explosion of a bomb in the Sidi Massmoudi 
region(265 miles east of Algiers) in the 
municipality of Mazara killed two soldiers.  This 
explosion happened during a military operation. 
 
August 12: 
- Three Algerians were added to Great Britain?s 
"Most Wanted" terrorist list compiled by federal 
government officials.  One of the three additions, 
the Algerian terrorist Abide Hamadou, alias Abou 
Zayd, is being held responsible for the murder of 
British hostage Edwin Dwyer.  Additionally, U.S. 
officials have added three international terrorism 
suspects -- two Algerians and one Mauritanian -- to 
their terrorist watch list:  Hamadou Abide Abdel 
Hamid Abu Zaid, alias Bilel from Djelfa (Algerian); 
Amour alias Ilyes Haythem (Algerian); and Abou 
Abderrahmane Etandaghi Annesse Echankiti 
(Mauritanian). 
 
August 15: 
- Security forces recovered a large quantity of 
weapons, explosives, and a considerable quantity of 
chemicals in a hideout discovered in Berraki, 
situated 30 miles east of Algiers. 
 
- Two communal guards were killed and two others 
seriously injured in the explosion of two bombs in 
the municipality of Babors, north of the town of 
Setif (187 miles east of Algiers).  The terrorist 
attack targeted communal surveillance guards in the 
region of Babors. 
 
- The explosion of a bomb in Tigzirt (64 miles east 
of Algiers), killed one gendarme and seriously 
injured two others.  The bomb was remotely operated 
by a group of armed terrorists. 
 
August 16: 
- In the mountains of Babour, in Setif province (187 
miles southeast of Algiers) five communal guards 
were attacked in an ambush in the region of Chorfa. 
Two guards were killed and three injured. 
 
- An armed confrontation took place west of Ain- 
Defla, (91 miles southwest of Algiers) between 
military forces and armed terrorists.  Three 
terrorists were killed. 
 
August 17: 
- An AQIM communique claimed responsibility for the 
August 8 suicide attack against the French embassy 
in Nouakchott. 
 
August 19: 
- Armed bandits driving a white Renault Clio 
 
carjacked a couple in a Toyota Hilux in Cheraga 
(seven miles east of central Algiers).  The armed 
men forced the victims out by gunpoint and 
threatened to kill them if they reported the attack 
to local police. 
 
August 23: 
- Security forces arrested one of the most dangerous 
terrorists (on Algeria's "Wanted" list for 14 
years)in the town of Dar el-Beida.  Security forces 
arrested this terrorist, part of the el-Fatah 
battalion, in possession of falsified documents 
meant to establish a false identity. 
 
August 24: 
- The "Salafist group" for Skikda received orders 
from AQIM leader Droukdel to perform suicide attacks 
targeting the ANP.  The orders reportedly included 
information that the first suicide bomber would be 
the 12-year-old son of the group?s previous emir. 
 
- A gendarme was killed and his brigade commander 
seriously wounded yesterday morning by a bomb in the 
municipality of Tarek Ibn Ziad in Ain Tanout (91 
miles southwest of Algiers).  The bomb was placed 
under a dead corpse discovered recently and exploded 
as a gendarme and his brigade commander approached 
the body. 
 
August 25: 
- A policeman and two gendarmes were killed in a 
terrorist attack in Tarik Bnou Ziad. The terrorist 
group shot the policeman and then exploded a 
homemade bomb when the gendarmes responded to the 
scene. 
 
- A 25-year-old tradesman was kidnapped in the 
municipality of Beni Douala (64 miles east of 
Algiers) after being forced to stop at a fake road. 
His vehicle was recovered one hour after.  The 
terrorist group demanded 3 billion dinars 
(approximately USD  42,134,831 million) in ransom. 
 
- The ANP killed two terrorists during a military 
operation in the mountains of Tibourbaz (51 miles 
east of Algiers). 
 
- A massive protest numbering 108 separate 
demonstrations erupted across Annaba (375 miles east 
of Algiers), including the participation of the 
following cities: Oued Forche, Ausas Val Mascort, 
Seybouse, Column, Bourmet el-Gas, Sidi Harb 
1,2,3,and 4, and Faklharine el-Hocine Bouzered. 
Throughout a period of 24 hours, protestors burned 
old tree trunks and tires and took to the streets to 
protest the government?s lack of assistance in the 
wake of severe regional flooding. 
 
August 26: 
- ANP troops killed two terrorists in a military 
operation, in the mountains of Tikirbaze (76 miles 
southeast of Algiers).  The security forces arrested 
five other terrorists who surrendered. 
 
August 28: 
- Security forces dismantled a terrorist support 
network in the municipality of Yessr (31 miles east 
of Algiers).  The network is composed of eight 
individuals suspected of giving terrorist 
information concerning the movements of security 
forces. 
 
- Security forces in Derrah el-Mizan (64 miles east 
of Algiers) dismantled a two-person terrorist 
support network.  The family members were aiding 
terrorists by giving them food, munitions, and 
information on security forces' movements in the 
aforementioned region. 
 
August 29: 
- The employees of the company Netcom found a bomb 
in the garden at a bus station (Tafourah) in 
Algiers.  Employees of the company found a "hard 
object," powder, electrical wires, and mobile 
phones.  The material was recovered, defused, and 
 
transported by the police to the Chateauneuf 
laboratory for further examination. 
 
- A terrorist attack in Merros (176 miles southwest 
of Algiers) caused the death of two soldiers and one 
pedestrian when a homemade bomb that had been hidden 
inside the soldier?s car exploded. 
 
August 30: 
- Two terrorists were killed by Security forces in 
the municipality of Corso.  A soldier was seriously 
injured in the clash, and two automatic weapons were 
recovered. 
 
- An unidentified terrorist group kidnapped a 
contractor in the village of Kadiria (76 miles 
southeast of Algiers). 
 
- Two soldiers were killed in Bordj el-Emir 
Abdelkader (59 miles south of Algiers).  The last 
terrorist attack in this city occurred three years 
ago when two policemen were killed. 
 
 
PEARCE