ASI Report ~ For Friday 3/5/10

HIGH ALERT -----STAY ALERT

United States (Country threat level - ): The U.S. Department of Defense building was put on lockdown on 4 March 2010 after a shooting incident at a Metro station connected to the complex. Police officers stated that a lone gunman entered the Pentagon Metrorail station at approximately 1840 local time (2340 UTC) and opened fire on Pentagon police officers. The suspect suffered several gunshot wounds before officers were able to bring him into custody. The assailant was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Two officers were also hit in the exchange of fire and are expected to make a full recovery. The entire Pentagon complex was put on lockdown. The alert was lifted after about an hour, and personnel were allowed to exit the building. Police officials stated that they have not yet determined the suspect’s motive, although unconfirmed reports have indicated that the gunman may have harbored resentment toward the U.S. military over what he believed were conspiracies surrounding the 9/11 attacks.

 Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas was placed on lockdown Friday with nearby streets closed, according to local reports.

Base spokesman Eugene Hill said the main gate was closed and the base was put on lockdown about 3 p.m., according to the Las Vegas Sun. It remains unclear what has caused the lockdown. Metro Police spokesman Bill Cassell said officers are assisting with traffic control in the area. Nellis is the location of the United States Air Force Warfare Center and is a major training location for both U.S. and foreign military aircrews.



Indonesia (Country threat level - ): Hundreds of students gathered outside the Parliament building in Jakarta on 5 March 2010 to protest the planned visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to the country, which is scheduled for 20-22 March. The students carried banners and threw shoes at posters of Obama's head, recalling the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoe at former President George W. Bush on a trip to Baghdad in 2008. Protests were also reported in Padang, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. According to protest organizers associated with the Coordinating Board for Campus Proselytizing Institute, larger protests will be staged on 12 March, ahead of Obama's visit.

ASI Comment: Obama is extremely popular in Indonesia, making these protests against his visit disconcerting. Recent controversy over the placement of a statue of Obama forced the government to move it to a school; Obama is scheduled to sign the base of the statue during his trip. Security is expected to increase significantly in the capital ahead of his visit, potentially affecting transportation.

Philippines (Country threat level - ): One-hour rolling brownouts hit areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces on 4 March 2010. The power outages, which, according to Manila Electric Company (Meralco) were due to a 245 megawatt shortfall in electricity supply, began at 1000 local time and ended at 1700 local time. The brownouts affected the following areas in Metro Manila: Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Quezon, Valenzuela, Las Pinas, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati and Taguig. Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Quezon province, Rizal and Batangas were also affected. The power shortage is expected to affect the Philippines through June 2010 due to the effects of the weather pattern El Nino. Parts of Mindanao, an area that depends on hydroelectric plants for its power supply, have been experiencing brownouts for the past few weeks.

Philippines (Country threat level - ): Three men associated with Islamic militant groups were captured on 4 March 2010 in Manila. Military officials stated that the men, associated with Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaeda-linked group, were planning to stage bombings in the capital in revenge for the killing of their commander in February 2010. Although the suspects are associated with Abu Sayyaf, military officials stated that they received training on making bombs by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Interrogations were still underway on 5 March and no additional details have been released.

EUROPE



Greece (Country threat level - ): On 5 March 2010 protests turned violent in Athens as demonstrators gathered at the landmark Unknown Soldier's Tomb near the Greek Parliament, where officials were holding a vote on legislation to approve an economic austerity plan. More than 7,000 protesters gathered to protest against the economic plan, which will reportedly increase taxes and cut public sector pay by more than 8 percent. The demonstrators rioted and threw stones at police officers. Additional violence was reported on 5 March when masked youths carried out an attack on riot police at the Council of State while trying to break into the Labor Ministry.

Members of the Greek public sector union ADEDY held work stoppages on 5 March in protest of the austerity measures; hospitals ran on only emergency staff, schools were closed and public transportation was disrupted throughout Athens. Air traffic controllers also stopped work from 1000-1400 UTC, affecting more than 60 flights. Smaller, but violent, protests were also reported in Thessaloniki on 5 March.

As unions continue their opposition to the austerity measures, a general strike is expected to occur on 11 March. The GSEE, a sister union of the ADEDY, agreed to join the upcoming strike. Between the two unions, more than 5 million people could participate in the labor action.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA



Israel (Country threat level - ): Disturbances occurred at the Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem on 5 March 2010 after Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque threw stones at Jews praying below at the Western Wall. The incident occurred following Friday prayer services. Security forces quickly deployed to the area, using stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the stone-throwing Muslims. More than a dozen people were injured. Disturbances also reportedly spread to alleyways in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City as well as to the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud.

Security forces in Jerusalem have been on a heightened state of alert in light of violence that occurred at the Temple Mount on 28 February. Muslim-Jewish tensions, while normally high, have been further inflamed since Israel decided in late February 2010 to place two disputed shrines in the West Bank on its list of national heritage sites. Anger over the decision, as well as an alleged rumor that Israeli settlers were planning to take over the al-Aqsa Mosque, prompted the February violence at the Temple Mount. Violence has also occurred in the West Bank city of Hebron over the heritage site listing, and on 5 March, approximately 100 Palestinians protested outside the Cave of the Patriarchs (known to Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque); the site is one of the locations placed on Israel's heritage list. Tensions continue to run high, and there is serious concern that further bouts of violence and disturbances will occur in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA



Rwanda (Country threat level - ): Late on 4 March 2010 two near-simultaneous grenade attacks occurred in Kigali. The first explosion took place near a taxi park in the Kimironko district, while the other occurred along a road in the Kinamba area near the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Center. The attacks took place within 10 minutes of each other at approximately 1900 local time. Reports indicate that at least one person was killed and 16 others were injured. The attacks came one day after President Paul Kagame sought to reassure residents of the country's safety in the aftermath of a similar incident in the capital two weeks earlier. Authorities initially blamed Interahamwe militia members for the 19 February attacks, but later shifted blame to a former army chief, who has since fled to South Africa. However, officials have not yet determined if the 4 March attacks are connected to the previous incidents, and they do not yet have any suspects. The recent spate of attacks comes ahead of Rwanda's August 2010 presidential election, which will be the country's second poll since the 1994 genocide.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Afghanistan (Country threat level - ): The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued the following Warden Message on 4 March 2010: “As of early March 2010, an Afghan insurgent group planned to conduct suicide attacks against an unidentified U.S. affiliate guesthouse in the Shar-e-Naw area of Kabul City, Afghanistan no later than March 6, 2010. The alleged U.S. affiliated guesthouse was located on Haji Yaqub road between a mosque and Shaheed Road circle. The attackers would be armed and planned to use a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

“The Department of State also remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks and other violent actions against the Afghan public, as well as U.S. citizens and interests in Afghanistan. Explosions, shooting, demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning. Current intelligence reports suggest that the Taliban, al-Qaida, and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against Afghan and international targets, including U.S. interests. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings.”