ID

138707

Etiquetas

PTER, PGOV, PREL, SP

Fecha

2008-01-25 14:47:00

RefID

08MADRID73

Origen

Embassy Madrid

Clasificación

CONFIDENTIAL

Destino

08MADRID54

08MADRID61

Encabezado

VZCZCXRO1284

PP RUEHAG RUEHROV

DE RUEHMD #0073/01 0251447

ZNY CCCCC ZZH

P 251447Z JAN 08

FM AMEMBASSY MADRID

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4118

INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0333

RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0152

RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 3250

RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY

RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

Contenido

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000073

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018

TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, SP

SUBJECT: SPAIN/BARCELONA ARRESTS: SUSPECTED TERRORISTS

REPORTEDLY TARGETED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

REF: A. MADRID 54

B. MADRID 61

MADRID 00000073 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1. (C) Spanish media reports and our Mission contacts

continue to reveal new information on the January 19 arrests

in Barcelona of 14 suspected Islamist extremist terrorists

(REFTEL A), and indicate that the terrorists were planning to

conduct suicide bombings on bus and subway lines located near

the heart of Barcelona's tourist areas. Post elements most

closely involved with Spanish authorities on this

investigation urge caution with regard to the Spanish media,

which has been full of significant inaccuracies. Since the

arrests, Post elements continue to keep Washington apprised

with authoritative reporting via appropriate channels. As

the investigation continues into the intentions of the

Barcelona terrorist cell, it appears clear that the

terrorists intended to attack the city's transportation

system, but it is not clear how many suicide operatives were

active, nor when the cell intended to strike. Spanish Judge

Ismael Moreno is the lead investigative magistrate on the

case and on January 23 ordered preventive detention for ten

of the 14 suspects, accusing them of having links to Islamic

terrorism. Eight of the ten stand accused of belonging to a

terrorist group and possessing explosives material, and the

other two were charged with membership in a terrorist group.

Two of the individuals originally arrested were released on

January 23 due to a lack of evidence, and another two were

previously released by the Spanish Civil Guard (CG). Our

contacts tell us that the four released do not appear to have

anything to do with the alleged terrorist cell and were

simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when the police

began their roundup of suspects. This has also been

supported in the local press by statements from family

members of some of the suspects.

2. (U) According to Judge Moreno's initial report released on

January 23, the alleged terrorist cell had chosen three of

its Pakistani members to conduct suicide attacks against

Barcelona's public transportation system last weekend

(January 18-20). However, Attorney General Conde-Pumpido

said on January 24 that there were in fact six would-be

bombers, and Interpol is reportedly looking for three suicide

terrorists in Germany and France who are allegedly linked to

the Barcelona cell. Also on January 24, Interior Minister

Rubalcaba was more circumspect as to when the terrorists were

set to strike, saying that the type and quantity of

explosives found thus far suggests that the group may have

still been in the planning stages. We can expect to see

continued conflicting reporting in the days to come as the

situation is still very fluid and Spanish authorities are

racing to ensure that the entire threat from this cell has

been disrupted.

3. (U) Spanish media reports that the following individuals

were remanded to prison by Judge Moreno on January 23 (names

as listed in Spanish):

- Imram Cheema

- Mohamed Shoaib

- Mehmooh Khalib (these first three are alleged to have been

the intended suicide bombers)

- Marrof Ahmed Mirza (alleged spiritual leader of the group)

- Mohammad Ayud Elahi Bibi (alleged organizational leader of

the group)

- Mohamed Tank

- Qadeer Malik

- Haffez Ahmed

- Roshan Jamal Khan

- Shaib Iqbal

The Spanish furnished us with the names of the suspects

shortly after the arrests and we sent back a corresponding

Visas Viper notice (REFTEL B).

//COMMENT//

4. (C) As we gather more information through press reports

and contact with Spanish law enforcement officials, it is

becoming clear that Spanish authorities disrupted an

MADRID 00000073 002.2 OF 002

organized terrorist cell with the intent to cause mass

casualties. These arrests are a victory for the Spanish CT

apparatus and a victory for the U.S. and our European allies

who are committed to the fight against international

terrorism. Whether or not the terrorists planned to launch

their attacks this past weekend is open to debate, but the

Spanish assessment, which we share at this point, is that an

attack was definitely coming. Spanish authorities therefore

did very well to act when they did to disrupt the cell's

planning. As it is not yet known if the entire operation was

thwarted by the Barcelona arrests, Spanish security forces

continue to interrogate the suspects in detention and follow

subsequent leads in cooperation with their international

counterparts.

5. (C) In the wake of the arrests, reports have surfaced in

the press and from our various Mission agencies that suggest

the overall effectiveness of this operation was hampered by

continued turf battles and rivalries between Spain's law

enforcement and security services. While we do not want to

engage in Monday-morning quarterbacking, we note that the

CNCA, Spain's NCTC equivalent founded precisely to eliminate

internal stovepiping, has been virtually sidelined in the

operation and its aftermath. Our understanding is that

cooperation among Spanish security services still leaves much

to be desired. Indeed, contradictory statements made by

Catalan regional Counselor of the Interior, Joan Saura, who

consistently downplayed the nature of the threat, indicates

how little information was passed to Catalan regional

authorities. Saura, whose portfolio includes regional

security, is expected to be called to explain his statements

in the regional parliament. The events of this past weekend

highlight yet again the Islamist extremist threat emanating

from Barcelona and the surrounding region, and argue for both

increased levels of U.S. cooperation with our European allies

in the fight against terror, and also continued intensified

efforts on the part of this Mission and the USG interagency

to engage with the Spanish government and impress upon them

the necessity of more streamlined cooperation and information

sharing in the fight against terrorism.

AGUIRRE;"