VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #1157/01 3631421
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291421Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8275
INFO RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 1056
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1995

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001157 
 
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:  SUMMARY OF TERRORIST AND SIGNIFICANT SECURITY INCIDENTS IN 
ALGERIA, OCTOBER 2009 
 
REFS: Algiers 01006 and previous 
 
¶1. (SBU) INTRODUCTION:  This cable is a summary of major terrorist 
incidents and threats as well as significant security-related 
incidents (including criminal activities and civil disturbances) for 
Algeria during the month of October 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 post policy guidelines related to 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: During the month of October 2009, 
there was a slight increase in terrorist activity as compared to 
September 2009.  With seven security forces killed (to include 
police, military and gendarmerie) and 30 injured in 47 reported 
attacks/confrontations between security forces and terrorist 
elements throughout the country, Algerian security forces 
encountered ten additional attacks and two additional security force 
deaths compared to the month of September (see reftel). 
 
The deadliest attack in the month of October occurred in the Kabylie 
region (64 miles east of Algiers) in the municipality of Maatka, 16 
miles south of Tizi Ouzou.  An unidentified group of terrorists set 
up an ambush on a road linking the two localities of Souk-el-Etnine 
and Mechtras.  This connector road is used by the Canadian company 
SNC-Lavalin to caravan to and from its water pipe project site. 
Local security forces were on their way to pick up the Canadian 
engineers on October 22, 2009, when the van was overwhelmed by heavy 
arms fire.  Seven local security guards were immediately killed and 
the driver died several days later in the hospital from injuries 
sustained in the attack.  No Canadians were killed or injured in 
this attack. 
 
¶3. (U) Combined military forces conducted 15 successful, large-scale 
counter-terrorism operations in the Kabylie regions of Constantine, 
Tizi Ouzou, Boumerdes, and Bouira during the month of October.  In 
addition, sweeping counter-terrorism operations were conducted in 
the mountainous areas of Jijel, M'Sila, Medea, and Setif, as well as 
the desert regions of Ghardaia, Bechar, and el-Bayadh. These 
operations resulted in 108 arrests and 65 deaths of suspected 
terrorists. 
 
¶4. (U) Nineteen bombs, ten of which were defused prior to 
detonation, were reported in the month of October, resulting in two 
deaths (one military officer, one communal guard) and eight 
seriously injured (four military officers, three gendarmes, and one 
civilian). 
 
¶5. (U) Civil Unrest/Riots:  While riots over poor living and road 
conditions were reported in Annaba and Tizi Ouzou (some of which 
were connected to student and teacher strikes going on during much 
of October), the most noteworthy riot in the month of October 
occurred in Algiers.  On October 19th, hundreds of protesters 
refused to vacate a shantytown area in Diar Echems after being 
repeatedly warned by police.  Poor Algerians had illegally built 
temporary housing in this area of the city due to the lack of 
available public and/or affordable housing in Algiers.  Protestors 
reportedly erected roadblocks and, when confronted by security 
forces, aggressively attacked riot police with bricks, stones, and 
molotov cocktails.  Police in riot gear responded with tear gas and 
extensive arrests in an attempt to quell the outbreak.  Battles were 
reportedly intense with some inhabitants throwing stones, furniture, 
appliances, and other heavy objects down on police.  The number of 
rioters was never confirmed but reportedly grew into the hundreds. 
The rioters also represented a multi-generational effort, with 
parents, grandparents, and children protesting poor housing 
conditions together.  Police succeeded in dispersing the riot after 
three full days of protest activity. 
 
Monthly statistics are as follows: 
Bombings:  19 (10 bombs defused prior to explosion) 
Civilian deaths:  9 
Security forces killed:  7 
Kidnappings:  6 
Terrorists killed:  65 
Terrorists arrested:  108 
Terrorists arrested/surrendered:  3 
False roadblocks:  2 
Riots:  3 
 
¶6. (U) DETAILS:  Below please find detailed local news reports of 
select terrorist/security-related incidents throughout the month of 
October. 
 
October 2: 
-In Setif (187 miles southeast of Algiers), a terrorist was killed 
in Djabell Boutaleb during a clash between the army and a local 
terrorist group. 
 
-In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers), four terrorists were 
refueling their vehicles and were confronted by military 
paratroopers and civilians who were helping the paratroopers.  One 
terrorist was killed, another injured, and a Kalashnikov rifle 
recovered. 
 
-A woman in Medea (59 miles south of Algiers) was kidnapped by an 
unknown terrorist group that demanded 200 million dinars (about USD 
2.8 million) in ransom for her safe return.  No further information 
has been reported on this kidnapping. 
 
October 3: 
- In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), military forces ambushed 
a group of terrorists in the locality of Ouacif. The ambush resulted 
in the deaths of two terrorists and the recovery of several 
Kalashnikov rifles. 
 
October 6: 
-Army troops killed two terrorists in the mountains of Tizi 
Nekouilelle in the wilaya of Bouira (76 miles east of Algiers). 
 
-Military forces killed two terrorists in Ouacif, situated 48 
kilometers from Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), and recovered 
two Kalashnikov rifles. 
 
-In M'sila (155 miles southeast of Algiers), three unknown suspects 
attempted to kidnap an individual in Sidi Aissa. The victim was 
immediately released when the kidnappers apparently decided to 
pursue a different target. 
 
October 7: 
-In Beyadh, military forces killed two terrorists in the region of 
Khither. 
 
-In Skikda, local residents in the town of Djenane el-Annabi rioted 
for hours, burning tires and trunks of trees, and demanded a better 
state road. 
 
October 9: 
-Military forces killed ten terrorists from the el-Moulathamine 
battalion of AQIM in an operation on the border crossing between the 
wilayas of Ghardaia and Bechar.  Three military forces were killed 
and five injured in the operation. 
 
October 10: 
-In Bouira (76 miles southeast of Algiers), a terrorist group set up 
a fake road block in the municipality of Kamza.  Terrorists robbed 
several passengers before escaping. 
 
October 11: 
-In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), a military officer was 
killed in a bomb explosion in Draa el-Mizan during an anti-terrorist 
operation. 
 
October 13: 
-Reported gang violence in the vicinity of Bab el-Oued, Algiers, 
involving over 50 individuals between the ages of 16 and 22, 
resulted in ransacked shops, the destruction of over 50 vehicles, 
and dozens of knife injuries.  A curfew was enforced in the 
neighborhood for several days following the violence that the local 
press dubbed "terror night." 
 
October 14: 
-In Jijel (244 miles east of Algiers), a military officer was 
injured in a bomb explosion in the Chekafa Mountains. 
 
October 17: 
-In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), one military officer was 
killed and three injured in a bomb explosion in the town of Draa 
el-Mizan during an anti-terrorist operation. 
 
-In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), security forces killed a 
terrorist emir named L. Mourad alias Abu Nouh Abi Khitma Essalafi, 
who was reportedly the coordinator between various terrorist groups 
acting within the GSPC (AQIM). He was killed in an ambush in the 
Dellys Mountains. 
 
 
October 18: 
-In Djelfa (171 miles south of Algiers), security forces killed four 
terrorists and arrested three others belonging to the same terrorist 
group.  Three Kalashnikov rifles and a 4x4 vehicle were recovered. 
The operation was conducted following information given by an 
arrested terrorist about the existence of a terrorist group in 
Djelfa coming from Tissemssilet.  In the same wilaya (Djelfa), 
security forces dismantled a terrorist support network a few days 
prior to conducting the above-mentioned operation. 
 
-A terrorist was killed and another injured near the municipality of 
Djimla, on the border between Jijel and Setif (224 miles east of 
Algiers). 
 
-Military forces in the wilaya of el-Ouad (407 miles southeast of 
Algiers) killed three terrorists and recovered several weapons and 
ammunition. 
 
October 19: 
-In Diar Echems, a suburb of the capital Algiers, violent clashes 
ensued between local security forces and Algerians who refused to 
vacate an illegal housing slum, despite government orders to do so. 
Rioters threw molotov cocktails and rocks at local police and set 
several trees and tires on fire.  Rioting lasted for several days, 
and dozens were reported injured, to include a seriously injured 
police officer. 
 
-In Jijel (224 miles east of Algiers), military forces killed two 
terrorists and recovered one Kalashnikov rifle in an ambush. 
 
-In Tizi Ouzou (64 miles east of Algiers), a police officer was 
killed by an unknown terrorist group. 
 
October 21: 
-In Setif (187 east of Algiers), two civilians from the village of 
Tachouda were injured in a grenade explosion. 
 
October 22: 
-Seven local security guards for the company SNC Lavalin were killed 
in an ambush in the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou in the Kabylie region (64 
miles east of Algiers).  Algeria's interior minister called this 
incident "the most serious attack in Algeria since late July." 
 
-In Constantine (269 miles east of Algiers), a military officer was 
killed in a full-scale operation conducted by army troops and 
supported by combined forces from the heights of Djebal Ouahch in 
Kef Lakhal locality.  One military officer was killed and four 
others were wounded.  Three terrorists were also killed, and three 
weapons and two pairs of binoculars were recovered. 
 
October 25: 
-In Tipaza (44 miles west of Algiers), terrorists set up a false 
roadblock in Douar Boutajine (4 miles from Tipaza).  The terrorists 
opened fire on a passing car and robbed the passengers.  No deaths 
or injuries were reported. 
 
 
October 27: 
-In Boumerdes (31 miles east of Algiers), three gendarmes were 
injured in a roadside bomb in the town of Benchoud. 
 
-In Tebessa (396 miles southeast of Algiers), a military officer was 
injured in a bomb explosion. 
 
October 28: 
-In M'sila, 155 miles southeast of Algiers, a communal guard was 
killed in a bomb explosion during a counter-terrorism operation 
conducted by military forces. 
 
-In Amel, the southeast region of Boumerdes (31 miles east of 
Algiers,) military forces, acting on a tip regarding the location of 
a terrorist group, killed one terrorist and destroyed his hideout, 
retrieving ammunition. 
 
-At the border between Bordj Bouariridj and Bejaia, the bodies of 
five terrorists were recovered by military forces.  The bodies were 
reported to belong to members of an AQIM battalion who were murdered 
by fellow battalion members after expressing their desire to turn 
themselves in under the amnesty program. 
 
October 30: 
-In Constantine (270 miles southeast of Algiers), one military 
officer was killed and four injured during a counter-terrorism 
operation conducted by combined forces in Djebal Ouahch. 
 
-In Tebessa (396 miles southeast of Algiers), a civilian was 
seriously injured in a bomb explosion. 
 
-In Laghouat (250 miles southeast of Algiers), a shepherd was killed 
by two unknown assailants. 
 
October 31: 
-Security forces conducted a military operation in the el-Fadj 
region of Constantine following information received about the 
location of terrorists in the city, killing three terrorists and 
recovering semi-automatic rifles and propaganda materials. 
 
-In Oum el-Bouaghi (312 miles southeast of Algiers), three 
assailants kidnapped an individual.  Two kidnappers have been 
arrested while the third is still at large. 
 
JORDAN