

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AS
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AND
AA
AE
AADP
AID
AO
AL
AG
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
ABT
APEC
AY
ASUP
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
ATRN
ANET
AGIT
ASECVE
ABUD
AODE
ALOW
ADB
AN
ADPM
ASPA
ARABL
AFSN
AZ
AC
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ASIG
ACABQ
ADIP
AFGHANISTAN
AROC
ADCO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARABBL
ASCH
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AOCR
ARR
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AFPK
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AINR
AOPC
AFAF
AFARI
AX
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AT
AFZAL
APCS
AGAO
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AMEX
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
AOIC
ASEX
ASEK
AER
AGR
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ACS
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BE
BMGT
BO
BM
BX
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BC
BH
BILAT
BUSH
BHUM
BT
BTC
BMENA
BOND
BAIO
BP
BF
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BBG
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BIDEN
BFIN
BZ
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CHR
CD
COE
CV
COUNTER
CT
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CONS
COM
CACS
CR
CONTROLS
CAN
CACM
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CFIS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITES
CONDOLEEZZA
CZ
CTBT
CEN
CLINTON
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CYPRUS
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CENTCOM
CAPC
COPUOS
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
CJUS
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DB
DA
DHS
DAO
DCM
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DOC
DTRA
DK
DAC
DOD
DRL
DRC
DCG
DE
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EUREM
EPA
ESTH
EEB
EET
ENV
EAG
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
EINDIR
ETR
ECONOMY
ETRC
ELECTIONS
EICN
EXPORT
EARG
EGHG
EID
ETRO
EINF
EAIDHO
ECIP
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EXBS
ED
EREL
ELAM
EK
EWT
ENGRD
EDEV
ECE
ENGY
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
ECLAC
ETRAD
EBRD
ENVR
ECONENRG
ELTNSNAR
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EDRC
EGOV
ETRA
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ESA
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EPREL
EINVEFIN
EAGER
ETMIN
EUCOM
ECCP
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FIR
FAO
FK
FARC
FAS
FJ
FREEDOM
FAC
FINANCE
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FORCE
FDA
FTA
FT
FCSC
FMGT
FINR
FIN
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GH
GZ
GE
GB
GY
GAZA
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GLOBAL
GV
GC
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GWI
GIPNC
GUTIERREZ
GTMO
GANGS
GAERC
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HU
HN
HHS
HURI
HUD
HUMRIT
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HL
HSTC
HILLARY
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HI
HUM
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
ICRC
INF
IO
IPR
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IQ
ICES
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQI
ISCON
IGAD
IRAN
ITALY
IRAQ
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IADB
INTERNAL
INMARSAT
IRDB
ILC
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IEA
ISPA
ICCAT
IOM
ITRD
IHO
IL
IFAD
ITRA
IDLI
ISCA
INL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
ISPL
IRS
IEF
ITER
INDO
IIP
IND
IEFIN
IACI
IAHRC
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
ISSUES
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KBCT
KMPI
KSAF
KACT
KFEM
KPRV
KPWR
KIRC
KCFE
KRIM
KHIV
KHLS
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KLIG
KIRF
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KPGOV
KTDD
KIDE
KOMS
KLFU
KNNC
KMFO
KSEO
KJRE
KJUST
KMRS
KSRE
KGIT
KPIR
KPOA
KUWAIT
KIVP
KICC
KSCS
KPOL
KSEAO
KRCM
KSCI
KNAP
KGLB
KICA
KCUL
KPRM
KFSC
KQ
KPOP
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KREC
KBWG
KR
KTTB
KNAR
KCOM
KESS
KINR
KOCI
KWN
KCSY
KREL
KTBT
KFTN
KW
KRFD
KFLOA
KHDP
KNEP
KIND
KHUM
KSKN
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KFPC
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMCC
KMNP
KSEC
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KLAB
KSEI
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRIM
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KIIP
KPAOY
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWAC
KFIU
KNNO
KPAI
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KNPT
KERG
KLTN
KPREL
KTLA
KO
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KENV
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KFRP
KTBD
KMSG
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MG
MU
MILI
MO
MZ
MEPP
MCC
MEDIA
MOPPS
MI
MAS
MW
MP
MEPN
MV
MD
MR
MC
MCA
MT
MIL
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOOPS
ML
MA
MN
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MGMT
MURRAY
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MNUR
MF
MEPI
MOHAMMAD
MAR
MAPP
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MNVC
MIK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MARAD
MDC
MACEDONIA
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NA
NP
NASA
NSF
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NMNUC
NC
NSC
NAS
NARC
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NR
NERG
NSSP
NE
NTDB
NT
NEGROPONTE
NGO
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OFDP
OFDA
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODPC
OIC
ODIP
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OMIG
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OAU
OCII
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OPCD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PO
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PGOVPREL
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PELOSI
PAS
PP
PTEL
PROP
PRELAF
PRHUM
PRE
PUNE
PIRF
PVOV
PROG
PERSONS
PROV
PKK
PRGOV
PH
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PRM
PINSO
PERM
PETR
PPAO
PERL
PBS
PETERS
PRELBR
PCON
POLITICAL
PMIL
POLM
PKPA
PNUM
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PARMP
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
POLUN
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PHUMA
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PARMS
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PS
PGVO
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PTBS
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PF
PGPV
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
ROW
ROBERT
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RELATIONS
RAY
ROBERTG
RIGHTS
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
REL
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RELFREE
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
REGIONAL
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
START
SPECIALIST
SG
SNIG
SCI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SCIENCE
SENVENV
SENS
SPCE
SPAS
SECURITY
SENC
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SL
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SADC
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SAN
SM
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TZ
TS
TC
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TRAFFICKING
TJ
TN
TO
TD
TP
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
TECH
TF
TRAD
TNDG
TWI
TPSA
TWL
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TL
TV
THPY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
USUN
UNEP
UNDC
UV
UNPUOS
UNSCR
USAID
UNODC
UNRCR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNRWA
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USAU
UNICEF
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UR
UNFICYP
UNCITRAL
UNAMA
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
UNCSD
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
USSC
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNCLASSIFIED
USDA
UNCTAD
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
UE
UAE
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
UNBRO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WTO
WMO
WFP
WEET
WS
WE
WA
WHA
WBG
WILLIAM
WI
WSIS
WCL
WEBZ
WZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WMN
WWARD
WITH
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 03FRANKFURT2405, VERDICT IN FRANKFURT TERRORISM TRIAL - WHAT WE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03FRANKFURT2405.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
03FRANKFURT2405 | 2003-03-20 11:51 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Frankfurt |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 FRANKFURT 002405
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/AGS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/TNC - MIKE STEINITZ
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/EU - BOWMAN MILLER AND HENRY RECTOR
DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT - PAUL BOYD AND STEPHANIE MOLNAR
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/OP/EUR
FBI FOR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS UNIT - SUE CURTIS
FBI FOR COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISION - KEVIN FOUST
JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF TERRORISM AND
VIOLENT CRIMES - TERESA WALLBAUM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINR PGOV AG GM
SUBJECT: VERDICT IN FRANKFURT TERRORISM TRIAL - WHAT WE
LEARNED ABOUT THE FRANKFURT CELL'S METHODS AND CONTACTS
REF: A. 2002 FRANKFURT 3580 (NOTAL); B. 2002 FRANKFURT 5829;
¶C. 2002 FRANKFURT 6207; D. 2002 FRANKFURT 10187
¶1. (U) Background and summary: This cable is a wrap up of
the Frankfurt terrorism trial. It is based on observations
by U.S. officials at the trial, but is not to be taken as a
verbatim transcript of the proceedings. When the written
verdict is published, post will provide it to Department.
¶2. (U) Summary continued: Four Algerians and one Moroccan,
part of a group commonly referred to as the "Frankfurt cell"
or the "Meliani Group", were arrested in December 2000.
Bomb-making materials and weapons were found in their
Frankfurt apartments. On March 10, 2003, four of the five
defendants were sentenced to 10-12 years of prison (the
possible maximum being 15) for plotting to bomb the
Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. One defendant,
Busid Karimou, had his case severed from the rest of the
group. He was charged with membership in a terrorist group
and was released from detention on August 30, 2002. All the
defendants trained in camps in Afghanistan. The trial
provided insight into the activities of a group of
terrorists, who trained in Afghanistan, and operated in
western Europe against a European target. This cable
compiles what was learned during the trial about the
backgrounds of the terrorists and suspected terrorists,
their movements and operations, and their connections to
other terrorists in Europe. End background and summary.
Defendants Trained in Afghanistan, But Court Could Not Prove
Al Qaeda Connection
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶3. (U) The group was arrested in December 2000 and their
trial began in Frankfurt on April 2002, at the Higher State
Court (Oberlandesgericht), convened by the Special Panel for
State Security Cases (Staatsschutzsenat). Four of the five
defendants, Aerubi Beandali, Lamine Maroni, Fuhad Sabour and
Salim Boukhari, were charged with forming a terrorist
organization, planning an explosion, plotting to commit
murder, falsifying documents, and possession of weapons.
They were sentenced to 10-12 years in prison and have only a
week to appeal, although their basis for appeals under
German law is limited to procedural irregularities. The
theoretical maximum sentence was 15 years. A formal written
verdict is expected before the end of March.
¶4. (SBU) Defendants Beandali, Boukhari and Karimou admitted
to training in terrorist camps in Afghanistan (Jalalabad,
Khost and Khaldan). Boukhari also mentioned learning
electronics in Turkum, which he described as a "Kurdish
camp" (presumably in Turkum, Pakistan). Sabour said he had
a year's training in "Islamic studies" in Afghanistan
(presumably also at a terrorist camp) where he met Beandali
and Boukhari. A witness, Hassan Aknoush, said that Maroni
also trained with terrorists in Afghanistan. The court
never successfully determined who planned or ordered the
attack, although Chief Judge Zeiher said it probably
originated with a man called Abu Doha in London. Due to the
complications of getting witnesses from other countries, the
prosecution dropped the charge of "membership in a terrorist
organization" on January 15, 2003. The prosecution
determined that proving the defendants were linked with
known terrorist organizations would have dragged out the
trial (it had already lasted nearly a year) without
increasing the severity of the ultimate sentences. There
were some indications the group was affiliated with the
Algerian GSPC or Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat,
and their Afghanistan training suggests an Al Qaeda
connection, but the court was unable to verify these
connections.
The Defendants: Multiple Aliases
--------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) The following are the known names/aliases and dates
of birth of the defendants. (Some variances in spelling
have been seen in different sources.)
¶A. Aeurobui Beandali (also Deandali) DOB 12/10/1975; aka Ben
Ali; aka Mustapha Mestpha Kelouili DOB 11/19/1978; aka
Djilali Benali Correia DOB 7/15/1975; aka Djilali Adadi DOB
6/5/1975. Presumed Algerian.
¶B. Lamine Moroni, DOB 1/10/1970; aka Benard Pascale, DOB
7/25/1970. Presumed Algerian.
¶C. Salim Boukhari (also Boukari), DOB 8/8/1971; aka Hicham
El-Haddad, DOB 4/30 1980; aka Claude Aman, DOB 8/8/1971; aka
Karim Muscat DOB 8/8/1971; aka Messaoud (also Mesud) Zamali
(also Zemani) DOB 8/4/1966; aka Mihdi; aka Malsara; aka
Kamal. Presumed Algerian.
¶D. Fouhad Sabour, DOB 2/13/1965; aka Hassene Benaimine DOB
12/08/1967; aka Samir Bouinoual DOB 8/9/1978; aka Alain
Dubois; aka Morira. French or Algerian.
¶E. Samir Karimou (also Krimou) aka Ibrahim Ahmed, DOB
12/18/1968; aka Abdel Kader. (Released from prison August
30, 2002, continued attending trial.) Born in Rabat,
Morocco.
The Evidence: Bomb-Making Materials, Weapons, Forged
Passports, Videotape of Strasbourg Christmas Market
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶6. (SBU) The evidence presented in the case included a
surveillance videotape of the Strasbourg Christmas market
and surrounding area, the weapons and the bomb-making
materials found in the apartments, and police recordings of
defendants' phone conversations. Two apartments and a
rental car were searched by the Bundeskriminalamt or BKA
(similar to the FBI). An apartment in Roederbergweg was
searched on December 23 and 26, 2000. Another apartment on
Sigmund Freud Strasse was searched on December 25-26, 2000.
Items found included various passports and identification
papers (some of them fraudulent); weapons, including two
mini-machine pistols; 2 semi-automatic weapons; a revolver
and ammunition; a hand grenade; 20 kg of potassium
permanganate; various electrical components and wires;
chemicals and a detonator; batteries; acetone peroxide
(TATP); mobile phones; cannabis or hashish; nails; and cash
in various currencies (German marks, British pounds, French
francs.) (Note: the cannabis or hashish was apparently seen
on the initial search on December 23, 2000, but were missing
when the items were seized on December 26.) Various notes
and letters were also found. Forged passports were also
found in one of the defendant's rental cars. Defendant
Beandali stated the weapons were eventually to be shipped to
Algeria.
The Defendants, Background, Statements, Observations
--------------------------------------------- -------
Defendant, Aeurobui Beandali: The Bomb Builder
¶7. (SBU) Aeurobui Beandali was the first of the defendants
to testify before the court. Beandali expressed regret for
his actions, stating that the events of September 11 had
changed his views on terrorism as a means of political
change. Of the five defendants, Beandali seems to have been
in Germany the longest but had the strongest connection to
Algeria. He said his original motivation was anger over
human rights abuses committed by the Algerian military
government. Beandali said he has been a member of the
Islamic Salvation Front political party (outlawed in 1992).
Beandali fled Algeria in 1992 at the age of 16 and applied
for political asylum in Germany. After committing several
criminal offences, including theft and aggravated assault,
Beandali's German asylum application was rejected and he was
ordered deported in April 1992. He went into hiding to
avoid deportation, supporting himself by petty crime and
drug trafficking. He also spent some time in France,
although the dates are unclear, where he apparently also
committed robbery and drug-related crimes.
¶8. (SBU) Beandali gave contradictory statements about his
whereabouts in 1999-2000. In one statement he said from
March 1999 until spring 2000 he lived in an apartment on
Leonardsgasse 7 in Frankfurt. In another, he claimed he
went to Afghanistan from about November 1999 - August 2000.
Beandali said he paid his own way to train in a camp in
Afghanistan, spending about $15,000 of his own money.
Beandali claimed he had to pay for his own ammunition - $150
for 750 rounds of ammunition. He described his training in
Afghanistan as specializing in religion, light weapons,
heavy weapons and explosives. Beandali said he met another
defendant, Karimou, at a camp near the Afghan town of
Khaldan, although Karimou stated he met Beandali in Khost.
¶9. (SBU) Beandali said he was an expert in explosives and
that it was his job to buy the bomb-building materials for
the Frankfurt cell. He explained that the bomb was to be
placed in a large, aluminum, Pakistani steam pot, which he
ordered in London. (Note: The fact that this would have
produced deadly splinter fragments was used as evidence that
the targets were people and not an empty synagogue as the
other defendants claimed. End Note.) He also bought large
amounts of potassium permanganate. Found among the evidence
seized in the Frankfurt apartment was a letter, purportedly
from a company, attempting to place an order for 115
kilograms of potassium permanganate. Beandali admitted that
he and Boukhari had written the letter using a fabricated
company name and person (Barakhat). Given the large amount
of potassium permanganate, the prosecutors asked if the
group planned multiple attacks. Beandali stated that
several attacks in Algeria were planned after Strasbourg,
hence the large amount of bomb materials.
¶10. (SBU) The BKA testified on what was found in Beandali's
rental car, which was in very bad shape. Found inside were
a backpack, several false passports, various papers and
passport photos. One of the passports was connected with
Aknoush and Aknoush's fingerprints were found on the
backpack. (Note: Aknoush, an associate of the Frankfurt
cell, is in custody in France.) They also found a mobile
phone, whose number matched with one being monitored by the
BKA.
¶11. (SBU) Despite Beandali's sometimes contradictory
statements and previous criminal record, he was actually the
most open with the court, helped moved the proceedings
along, and expressed regret for his actions and a desire to
turn away from Islamic extremism. He received the lightest
sentence, ten years, due to his cooperation with the court.
Beandali accepted the sentence and said he would not appeal.
Defendant, Lamine Maroni: The Disruptive, Absurd One
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶12. (SBU) Beandali had stated that Lamine Maroni's only job
was to help him mix the chemicals to make explosives and
that he was not involved in planning the attack. Maroni did
not formally testify but confirmed some statements by
defendant Sabour. Maroni said Beandali was the leader of
the Frankfurt cell and he openly displayed hostility to
Beandali. Maroni's role in the group was unclear, but the
other defendants seemed to be a bit afraid of him. Maroni
seems to have been in England before coming to Frankfurt
with Boukhari sometime in late 2000. Maroni did not
cooperated with his lawyers, then complained he was
uninformed. A witness, Hassan Aknoush, has stated that
Maroni also trained with terrorists in Afghanistan.
¶13. (SBU) Maroni was disruptive from the start. On the
first day of the trial he shouted, "Everyone here is a Jew!"
He said that non-believers are dirt, that he did not want a
lawyer, and that he only had contact with God. He continued
to disrupt proceedings on subsequent trial days and was
absent for the fourth trial session on May 7, 2002, after
being found in prison with a razor blade which he used to
cut up his clothing. He later rejoined the trial, having
missed several sessions. Maroni enjoyed engaging in
distracting behavior, especially when it seemed sensitive
information was about to be revealed by a defendant or
witness. He yelled out things to the other defendants such
as, "Sometimes they lie to you to get you talking." He
demanded sandwiches, chocolate, made absurd statements,
criticized the judges and prosecuting attorneys, and
complained loudly about his handcuffs.
¶14. (SBU) Maroni received a sentence of eleven years, one
year higher than the prosecution had requested, for his lack
of cooperation and repeated hostile statements. His
outbursts demonstrated his hatred and ruthlessness, the
court concluded.
Defendant Salim Boukhari: The London Connection
--------------------------------------------- --
¶15. (SBU) The defendant Salim Boukhari appears to have had
the strongest connections to London. The Algerian Embassy
questioned him on October 30, 2002 with his lawyers present.
The Algerian Embassy confirmed that Boukhari was Algerian,
but cast doubt on the accuracy of the name and Algerian
address he had given. When Judge Zeiher read Boukhari's
Algerian address from a letter Boukhari had written (50
Boulevard Mohammed V, Algiers, 1016 Algeria), Boukhari
declined to confirm it, but asked the judge not to reveal it
to the Algerian Embassy, apparently afraid the Algerian
government might harm his family. The judge responded that
the address was not a secret.
¶16. (SBU) According to his own statement, Boukhari wanted to
study in France but failed to get a residence permit. He
went to London but was deported, though the dates are
unclear. Somehow he returned, and according to his own
statements, lived in London starting from about 1995. He
married Tina Nash and lived with her at 79 Blesbury Road in
London. He worked for a security company called Mitas
Security and then later moved to the Layton Stone district.
He met a man named Noureddine in 1995, who got him
interested in religion. After Boukhari's divorce in 1998,
he moved in with Noureddine, who recruited him for Islamic
causes, showing him videos of Algeria, Chechnya and
Palestine. Boukhari said he thought of donating money to
the Algerian freedom struggle but instead used his life
savings of 3000 British pounds to go to Afghanistan via
Pakistan.
¶17. (SBU) He arrived in Peshawar in early 2000. He was
welcomed by Hassan Aknoush and other Algerians, including a
man named Jaffa. Boukhari trained for five months in
Afghanistan in light and heavy weapons, electronics and
religion. He became ill with malaria and typhoid fever and
returned to Pakistan where he stayed with Jaffa. In
Pakistan, Boukhari got to know Beandali. When Jaffa was
forced to flee, pursued by Pakistani intelligence services,
Boukhari obtained a forged British passport and returned to
London on September 16, 2000. He remarried in October 2000
and had a son on June 19, 2001. He met Noureddine again,
who asked him if he was willing to go to Frankfurt to pick
up some weapons from Aknoush. Boukhari went to Frankfurt in
early November 2000 for a few days. Later in November 2000,
he returned to Frankfurt, accompanied by Maroni, and stayed
with Beandali.
¶18. (SBU) Boukhari's statements to the court were often
confusing and inconsistent. Regarding his involvement in
the attack in Strasbourg, Boukhari said that the planning
began in early December 2000, and claimed he agreed to
participate if no one would be hurt. He also claimed he
intended to return to London in December 2000, and therefore
would not be present at the time of the attack. Boukhari
admits he was the point of contact for Nourredine in London.
Boukhari claims, however, that Nourreddine did not give
orders or designate a target but gave "only ideas."
Boukhari admitted buying chemicals at different locations in
Germany with the help of Sabour. Boukhari also admitted
making the comment on the surveillance videotape of the
Strasbourg Christmas market, "These are the enemies of God.
They dance and are happy, God willing they will stew in
hell."
¶19. (SBU) Aknoush stated that Boukhari was in contact with
Abu Doha in London. Boukhari said he had spoken with Abu
Doha but only on the subject of renting rooms in Baden
Baden. Aknoush, in a statement from detention in France,
also said that Boukhari was the assigned leader of the
Frankfurt cell. Boukhari stated that the attack was planned
for the end of January or beginning of February 2001,
perhaps, again to distract from the Christmas market as
target and the charge of attempted murder.
¶20. (SBU) Boukhari received the longest sentence of the four
defendants, twelve years in prison. Judge Zeiher concluded
he was the "driving force" behind the Frankfurt cell who
obtained money for the operation, purchased the largest
amount of bomb-making materials, and handled logistics. He
cooperated only reluctantly with the court, and frequently
expressed hatred of Jews and western culture.
Defendant, Fouhad Sabour
------------------------
¶21. (SBU) Fouhad Sabour said that he became involved with
Islamic extremists in London in 1995. In 1996, he was
arrested in France for membership in a terrorist
organization. He admitted being a member of Algeria's GIA
or Armed Islamic Front. He said that he spent a year in
Afghanistan (May 1999 - May 2000) for "Islamic legal
studies." (Note: Presumably, Sabour was also at a terrorist
training camp, though he did not specify where.) There he
met Beandali and Boukhari. It is not clear when Sabour came
to Germany, but he said he met and moved in with Maroni in
the Sigmund Freud Strasse apartment in Frankfurt. Sabour
admitted possessing three fraudulent passports and other
forged documents and using aliases.
¶22. (SBU) Sabour's role in the plot was unclear. Boukhari,
in his statements, denied that Sabour had any detailed
knowledge of the bombing plans. It seems Sabour was
assigned some duties (specifics unclear) to help in carrying
out the attack together with Boukhari or Beandali. Boukhari
said he and Sabour bought chemicals at different locations
in Germany. Sabour also admitted driving the car to
Strasbourg, accompanying Boukhari to videotape the target.
¶23. (SBU) Sabour received the second highest sentence of
eleven and a half years. The judges agreed with the
prosecution that Sabour's participation in videotaping the
Christmas market made him a willing accomplice in the
attack.
Defendant, Busid Karimou
------------------------
¶23. (SBU) Busid Karimou was released from detention on
August 30, 2002. The court could not find any evidence he
was involved in the preparations for the bomb attack, thus
he was only charged with membership in a criminal group,
which carries a one-to-ten year sentence. The judge ordered
Karimou released from custody after he was incarcerated for
17 months, noting that continued detention was unreasonable,
considering that a prisoner can be eligible for an early
release, based on good behavior, after having served two
thirds of the sentence. The judge noted that Karimou had
lied repeatedly, given a false name, and at first denied
that he had trained in Afghanistan, and thus was not
innocent.
¶25. (SBU) According to his own statement, Karimou was born
in Rabat, Morocco. He moved to Algeria, then to Germany in
February 1999. He applied for asylum in Germany on February
23, 1999 and fell in with hashish dealers while the decision
was pending. He felt he was being pursued by police and
fled to London, where he hoped to get a job and a residence
permit. He began visiting the Finsbury Park mosque in
London and became interested in religion and politics. In
January 2000, he joined a Tunisian friend named Amar and
went to Afghanistan for training. First he stayed with
Jaffa in Peshawar, then went to a camp in Jalalabad. There
he met Boukhari, who had just ended his training. He was
required to turn in his forged French passport. He met
Beandali at a second camp in Khost. The training was harder
than he expected; Karimou said he argued constantly with his
group leader and the other participants. After only three
months of training, he returned to Pakistan, where Jaffa
accused him of being a traitor. Karimou said he got his
forged French passport back only after repeated attempts.
¶26. (SBU) Karimou returned to London in May 2000 and met an
old friend from Frankfurt, Abdel Hadid. Unable to find a
job in London, Karimou moved to Frankfurt in July 2000. At
first he had no place to stay, but then managed to throw
Aknoush out of his apartment in Sporstrasse 61. (The
landlord was angry because Aknoush had not paid his rent.)
Apparently this apartment was used as a meeting point for
the group, and Beandali and Boukhari were frequent visitors.
Karimou said he had no knowledge of the Strasbourg attack
and was never a member of the group. Beandali, in his
statement, also said Karimou was innocent and not involved
in the plot but only arrested because they were friends.
According to Beandali, Karimou was merely in the wrong place
at the wrong time when arrests were made.
Witnesses, Contacts and Others Connected to the Frankfurt
Cell
--------------------------------------------- ------------
¶27. (SBU) Mohammed Afane, witness. Born in Algeria, age 26,
arrived in Frankfurt in April 2000 after transiting Spain
and France. Afane said he had met Karimou in Frankfurt, and
knew Karimou's brothers in Algeria. Afane also testified
that he met Boukhari (known to him as Hitscham) in
Weiterstadt prison near Darmstadt. Boukhari asked Afane to
take a letter for him, which Afane declined to do after
reading it. He said the letter mentioned "saving money for
weapons to support our friends" and a man named Suleiman who
was not arrested and "hopefully could make it before he also
gets arrested." Afane assumed Suleiman was a dangerous
terrorist. (Note: Suleiman may be Slimane Khalfaoui or
Slimane Mutamna, see below.)
¶28. (SBU) Hassan Aknoush (aka Jassin; aka Moheme; aka
Aknouche), witness. In detention in France. He apparently
met Boukhari in Pakistan. Aknoush's written statements were
read by the Frankfurt court. A backpack with Aknoush's
fingerprints was found in Beandali's rental car. Beandali
has stated that the weapons seized in the Frankfurt
apartment belonged to Aknoush, although Beandali denied
Aknoush was connected to the bomb plot. Beandali said he
had known Aknoush since 1999. Aknoush said, in statements
to French authorities cited by the court in Frankfurt, that
Abu Doha was the head of the Frankfurt cell and Boukhari was
his closest contact. Aknoush said that according to a phone
call he had with Abu Doha, Abu Doha "picked Boukhari to be
in charge of the attack in Strasbourg." Aknoush stated, as
reported in French police documents, that Boukhari and
Maroni underwent training with Abu Kahba, an expert in bombs
and chemical weapons connected to Al Qaeda, in Afganistan.
¶29. (SBU) Abu Doha (aka Dr. Rashid), contact. Suspected
Algerian terrorist leader, in custody in England awaiting
extradition to the United States based on his connection
with the plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport
during the Millenium. He has been described by the media as
the man who supervised Algerian terrorists in Europe once
they had finished their training in Afghanistan. Abu Doha
was a contact of Boukhari's in London. His role in the
planned Strasbourg attack is unclear. Defendant Beandali
has denied Abu Doha was the leader of the Frankfurt cell.
Defendant Boukhari has admitted to telephone conversations
with Abu Doha, but said he has never met him. Boukhari
stated that Abu Doha had instructed the Frankfurt cell,
presumably in December 2000, to rent another apartment "for
a longer time," but Boukhari said that Abu Doha had nothing
to do with the Strasbourg attack and was not the leader of
the Frankfurt cell. However, according to the BKA, British
intelligence reported a telephone conversation between
Boukhari (in Frankfurt) and Abu Doha (in London) on December
24, 2000 in which the attack was discussed and Boukhari asks
Abu Doha for more money for the rooms rented in Frankfurt.
¶30. (SBU) Mohammed Sadikki (aka Mohammed Bitchu), witness.
Got to know Maroni and Beandali in two German prisons.
Sadikki provided the most extensive testimony of any
witness. According to Sadikki, Maroni admitted to
participation in a number of terrorist operations in the
U.K. Sadikki said Beandali asked him to deliver a message
to a mosque in Frankfurt and talked of the need to fight
Christians and Jews. Beandali mentioned a synagogue in
Lille, France as a potential target. Beandali also told
Sadikki the group planned further attacks in Germany, France
and Spain. Beandali never mentioned the Strasbourg
Christmas market to Sadikki, but Beandali said he would like
to turn Rome, the cradle of Christianity, into ashes.
Sadikki verified Beandali's role as bomb expert and
indicated that Beandali and other members of the group
coordinated their testimonies in prison before the trial
started.
¶31. (SBU) Sadikki mentioned Usama bin Laden twice. Sadikki
reported that Beandali asked him to contact a man named
Abdul Rachman in London after his release. Beandali
described Rachman as "Usama bin Laden's representative" in
London, who had also promised to take hostages to force the
release of the members of the Frankfurt cell. Sadikki also
testified that Beandali told him that the camp in
Afghanistan at which he was trained was run by Usama bin
Laden. Sadikki also said that the group used forged
documents and stolen credit cards. Sadikki's testimony was
sharply challenged by Beandali's attorney. Sadikki also did
not always strike observers as a credible witness since much
of his testimony consisted of merely confirming statements
he had given earlier to the police. He also seemed to be
exaggerating at times. For example, at one point, he said
the Frankfurt cell had 38 million German marks at their
disposal, which caused the defendants to laugh.
¶32. (SBU) Slimane Khalfaoui, (aka Azzedine; aka Slimane
Amena; aka Sedine; aka "Tourist"), contact. Was arrested in
an eastern suburb of Paris, France on November 25, 2002 in
connection with the Strasbourg bombing plot. Slimane
Khalfaoui is described by a New York Times report as "an
important member of the Al Qaeda network in Europe," a 27-
year-old with French-Algerian nationality, who fought in
Bosnia and Afghanistan and has been on wanted lists since
¶1996. Beandali admitted knowing Slimane Khalfaoui. The
police have a recording of a phone conversation between
Slimani Kalfaoui and Beandali from December 25, 2000. They
discussed the whereabouts of Noureddine and Slimane
Kalfaoui's expected arrival in Frankfurt. Slimane Khalfaoui
may have lived in Lyon for a time, providing the Frankfurt
cell with information on Jewish communities. Beandali
stated that Slimane Khalfaoui "sometimes resided in Germany,
but also in France and Britain."
¶33. (SBU) Abdul Rachman, alleged contact. Described by the
witness Sadikki (see above) as "Usama bin Laden's
representative" in London, who had also promised to take
hostages to force the release of the members of the
Frankfurt cell. Sadikki, in his testimony, stated that
defendant Beandali had asked Sadikki to contact a man named
Abdul Rachman in London after Sadikki's release.
¶34. (SBU) Meliani, aka Mohamed Bensakhiria, alleged contact.
Currently in French custody. According to an Italian police
report filed with a court in Milan, the Frankfurt cell is
connected to Mohamed Bensakhiria in Italy. Meliani has also
been described as a leader of the Frankfurt cell and the BKA
has investigated other Meliani contacts in Berlin. The
Frankfurt cell's connection to Meliani was never pursued by
the Frankfurt court.
¶35. (SBU) Lazahr ben Mohamad Tlilli, alleged contact. A 33-
year old Tunisian man was arrested in Marseille in mid-
October 2000. According to the media, Lazahr ben Mohamad
Tlilli was in possession of false documents and telephone
numbers of people suspected of terrorist involvement in
Italy, Germany, Belgium, England and France. Lazahr ben
Mohamad Tlilli is alleged to have connections with at least
one member of the Frankfurt cell. The Frankfurt court did
not pursue this connection.
¶36. (SBU) Mounir Shuhaib, contact. Another suspected
terrorist and alias of the person who rented the apartment
in Sigmund Freud Strasse according to BKA testimony.
¶37. (SBU) Hassan Atap, contact. According to Beandali, he
is an opposition leader in Algeria and was his contact for
planning attacks in Algeria.
¶38. (SBU) Jaffa, contact. For a time based in Peshawar,
described by Boukhari as a member of the Takfiri group, more
extremist than the Taliban. Karimou also mentioned Jaffa in
Peshawar. Karimou said Jaffa accused him of being a traitor
when Karimou gave up after only three months of training in
Afghanistan. Jaffa was reluctant to return to Karimou his
forged French passport. (Note: Perhaps this is the Abu
Jaffar mentioned by Ahmed Ressam, the millennium bomber in
his 2001 testimony, as "in charge of the Algerian cells"
training in Afghanistan. Abu Jaffar was also described by
Ressam as being a camp leader, and training recruits in the
use of TNT and C4 explosives.)
¶39. (SBU) Djoumakh, alleged contact. In detention in
France, presumed Algerian. Mentioned in the November 23,
2002 trial session by Judge Zeiher as a friend of Slimane
Mutamna. Prosecutor Brinkmann said that Djoumakh had
testified on contacts Maroni, Boukhari and Sabour had with
Abu Doha and Slimane Mutamna in London.
¶40. (SBU) Salime (also Slimane) Mutamna, contact. Boukhari
said he, Salime Mutamna and Sabour were all together in
Frankfurt in November 2000, where they attempted to purchase
weapons for Algeria.
Motivation, Connection to Al Qaeda?
-----------------------------------
¶41. (SBU) The defendants gave various and contradictory
explanations of their motivation for a terrorist attack.
Beandali, the most active in Algerian causes, claimed anger
at human rights abuses in Algeria or "fighting the dangerous
regime" in Algeria a motivation. Beandali stated the
weapons seized by authorities were intended for Algeria.
Boukhari and Sabour also cited solidarity with the "struggle
of the Palestinian people" as a reason. A desire to disrupt
relations between France and Israel was also mentioned. All
defendants seem to share a general hatred of Jews and
Christians as shown in statements such as, "Non-believers
don't deserve to breathe. They are the enemies of God...."
The court did not establish any clear motivation for the
attack by the Frankfurt cell -- or any of its members -- or
why Strasbourg in particular was selected as a target,
though clearly the Strasbourg cathedral and market are
heavily symbolic. The defendants have given contradictory
statements about whose idea the attack was. Sabour stated
it was the idea of the Frankfurt cell alone, while Beandali
said that Boukhari received orders for the attack from
London. Defendants are vigorous in denying any connection
to Al Qaeda, though their training in Afghanistan camps and
contact with other known Al Qaeda network members make this
claim somewhat doubtful. The court abandoned attempts to
prove an Al Qaeda connection by dropping membership in a
terrorit organization charges in January, 2003.
What was the London Connection? What was the role of Abu
Doha and Noureddine?
--------------------------------------------- -----------
¶42. (SBU) Abu Doha: The London connection to the Frankfurt
cell is unclear. According to the BKA, British intelligence
reported a phone call between Boukhari (in Frankfurt) and
Abu Doha (in London) on December 24, 2000, in which a
terrorist attack is discussed and Boukhari asks Abu Doha for
more German money to pay for two rooms rented in Frankfurt.
Boukhari admitted to having phone conversations with Abu
Doha, but denied Abu Doha was the leader of the group. The
criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New
York alleges that Abu Doha facilitated the travel of
trainees into Al-Qaeda-affiliated training camps and was
responsible for establishing communication among various
cells in the training camps (see par. 8). In addition, in
press statements, the prosecutors described Abu Doha as a
key figure in Al Qaeda.
¶43. (SBU) Noureddine (never further identified), Beandali's
View: Noureddine was another London contact frequently
mentioned. Beandali said he distrusted Noureddine. He said
he met him in Afghanistan and noted he did not follow
Islamic washing rites. He described Noureddine as an
Algerian with a French passport living in London. He stated
that Noureddine was an undercover agent of French
intelligence and that Noureddine had told Beandali that the
French secret service had offered him money to inform on
Algerians living in London and Afghanistan. Beandali also
heard from a man known as "the Emir" that Noureddine was an
informer. Beandali also said that Noureddine was flown out
of the Balkans by the French government. Noureddine was
also interested in a man named Hisham, whom Beandali claimed
was wanted by the FBI. Beandali said he helped Hisham
escape from Afghanistan to London, then to Germany and
Spain. Eventually, Hisham was arrested in Algeria and
Beandali believes Noureddine turned Hisham into the
authorities. Thus for several reasons, Beandali felt
Noureddine was an informer. In a somewhat contradictory
statement, however, Beandali suspected Noureddine of
directing the attack in Strasbourg (Comment: This seems
strange for a French intelligence agent. End comment) and
giving orders to Boukhari from London. Beandali told Judge
Zeiher, when he "heard Noureddine in London was behind the
plan," he "found it unlikely that the target was an empty
building. A guy like Noureddine certainly had something
more spectacular in mind, something where people could be
hurt."
¶44. (SBU) Noureddine, Boukhari's View: In contrast, Boukhari
appears to have been a rather close friend of Noureddine.
Boukhari stayed with Noureddine at his London apartment at
various times and between his marriages. Noureddine
apparently nudged Boukhari in the direction of Islamic
extremism, inspiring him to train in Afghanistan. Boukhari
also said that the Frankfurt cell had 20,000 German marks at
their disposal, which Noureddine had brought from London.
Boukhari has been vague about Noureddine's role in the
Strasbourg attack, but has stated that Noureddine only gave
"ideas, not orders."
CONCLUSIONS AND COMMENT
-----------------------
¶45. (SBU) The defendants, all of Algerian or Moroccan
origin, spent time in western Europe (especially France,
England and Germany), and were involved in terrorist and/or
criminal activity for several years. They moved easily in
and out of Germany and around western Europe. Four of the
five (all but Maroni) have admitted to training in
Afghanistan. Three of the five (Beandali, Boukhari,
Karimou) admitted to training in terrorist camps there. A
witness, Hassan Aknoush, has stated that Maroni also trained
with terrorists in Afghanistan. Thus if Aknoush is correct,
all five defendants trained in Afghanistan. The Frankfurt
cell was planning some type of bomb attack in Strasbourg and
had gathered significant bomb-making materials for the job.
The Frankfurt cell had definite connections to others
assumed to be terrorists or Islamic extremists in England
and France. Although the court could not prove an Al Qaeda
connection, defendants admitted contact with Slimane
Khalfaoui (in France, alleged member of Al Qaeda network),
Abu Doha (in London, alleged member of Al Qaeda network);
and Noureddine (in London, affiliation unknown.) In reading
the sentences, Judge Zeiher said that the arrest of the
defendants had "prevented a bloodbath."
¶46. (U) This message has been coordinated with Embassy
Berlin.
BODDE