SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS SPECIAL REPORT

SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS SPECIAL REPORT - No. 1

Olympic Countdown: 12 Weeks Until the Opening Ceremony

ERRI SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC'S SPECIAL REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services: Friday, June 23, 2000

Update and Assessment of Security for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Produced by Jeremy Zakis, ERRI Analyst in Australia

**INDEX**

SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY NEWS

- Usama bin Laden Organization Biggest Threat to Olympics

- Islamic Terrorist Links Investigated

- Bomb Squad in Force During Olympic Games

ERRI OLYMPIC THREAT ASSESSMENTS

- "S-11" Threat During Olympics

- ERRI Olympic Games Security Assessment

OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY PROFILES

- PROFILE: The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Security Team

SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY NEWS

Usama bin Laden Organization Biggest Threat to Olympics

Australian authorities repeatedly say there is "no specific threat" of terrorism against the Olympic games beginning September in Sydney, but sources in the security teams said that a judgment was made that any terrorist threat was likely to come from the Usama bin Laden-funded groups.

Olympic security officials have already dealt with a number of threats leading up to the Sydney 2000 games. One of the more serious came to head on May 22nd when a 28-year-old man in Sydney was arrested in possession of explosives after making numerous threats to Olympic organizers. Authorities said the man changed his name to his idol Martin Bormann, one of Adolf Hitler's henchmen, and was described as a racist. Olympic Investigation Strike Force officials making the arrest also seized a number of racist documents at his home. Hydrochloric acid, chlorine, gasoline and fertilizer -- all major ingredients for making explosives -- were found in a bunker below his Sydney home.

Usama bin Laden was publicly acknowledged as a serious concern on June 4th when Australian and international intelligence agencies reported they were alarmed at the emergence throughout South and South-East Asia of terrorist groups linked to Usama bin Laden.

The announcement coincided with separate media report in the Australian newspaper Sunday Age, that bin Laden associates were suspected of buying biological weapons from an undisclosed former Soviet State. Intelligence sources had told reporters bin Laden had purchase of deadly anthrax and plague viruses from arms dealers in Kazakhstan.

The intelligence source also gave some information about their mission: "Essentially the fight against this sort of terrorism is preventive - it comes down to the agencies stopping the people who do this sort of thing from coming in."

"If there is a flaw in intelligence and this sort of (biological) attack happens, we can do little but react and try to minimize the human damage," the unidentified source said.

Pre-Games intelligence operations include a massive surveillance operation and prior to the games the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence and Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), with the help of international agencies in the United States and Israel, will also be coordinating criminal intelligence assessments before and during the Olympics. The latest overall assessment by Sydney 2000 Olympic security officials is that the risk of terrorism is low.

Islamic Terrorist Links Investigated

Australian security agencies earlier this month investigated phone calls made to numerous New South Wales (NSW) addresses in late 1992 and early 1993 by convicted Islamic extremists linked to the February 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York. Unidentified sources told The Age newspaper that phone records from the period showed extensive telephone contact between the Usama bin Laden associates and NSW before and after the bombing in New York.

The associates were identified as El-Gabrowny, charged with conspiracy in the bombing and Mahmud Aboulahimi, charged for being one of the New York bombers. They had made telephone calls lasting from nine to 19 minutes to businesses in Dean Park, NSW and Yagoona, NSW on March 20 and 21. A third person involved in the WTC bombing, Mohammed Salameh was also preparing to apply for migration to Australia at the time of the crime.

Bomb Squad in Force During Olympic Games

Over one fifth of the security force present at the Sydney 2000 Olympics will be bomb squad according to Olympic security chief Paul McKinnon. About 1800 personnel, 1100 soldiers and 700 police officers will be deployed around the games in September conducting explosives searches on all vehicles carrying Olympic VIP's, athletes and officials before entering the venues.

Bomb officers will also have the task to searching 56 Olympic venues including marathon routes, Sydney Harbour exclusion areas and Olympic family hotels before setting a top-security lock-down before the games.

ERRI OLYMPIC THREAT ASSESSMENTS

"S-11" Threat During Olympics

A group identifying itself as "S-11" has threatened to shut down the World Economic Forum (WEF) being held at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Victoria state between September 11-13. On Wednesday "S-11" was responsible for taking the Nike webpage 'hostage' pasting anti-corporate globalization messages at the site.

"S-11" is based in Fitzroy, Victoria and is currently recruiting members through national universities. In September in the vicinity of the Crown Casino, the group is encouraging people to take part in actions similar to those seen in Seattle last November. The group is also offering special workshops and training sessions leading up to the event with convergence beginning on 7 September in Melbourne. The next planned workshop is on June 24-25 in Northcote, Victoria teaching non-violent blockading techniques, legal rights and affinity group logistics. Despite their "non-violent" approach to protesting, their actions have been especially disruptive at WEF events in Seattle and Washington D.C. With the Olympics coinciding with their planned demonstrations, there is a low-risk they may protest at Olympic events to gain world attention.

ERRI Olympic Games Security Assessment

Released: Friday 23 June 2000

In agreement with the assessment by official Olympics security team personnel, ERRI also rates the threat of terrorism or disturbance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games , at this time*, as a "LOW THREAT". There are no specific threats known at this time and there is no expectation of serious disturbance during the event.

However minority groups may plan to hold demonstrations or protest at some venues to gain prime time media coverage. The most dominant group is the Reconciliation activists who have staged mass rallies across the country in an effort to pressure the Australian Prime Minister into saying "Sorry" for the "stolen-generation" of native aboriginal Australians. Prime Minister John Howard is refusing to be pressured into an apology that he claims would potentially spilt the nation further on issues of reconciliation.

Despite Australia's diplomatic intervention in the Fiji and the Solomon Islands coup crisis, there is presently no expected backlash or threat of reprisal from either country.

The ongoing Islamic militant conflict in the Southern Philippines is of minimal concern, at this time*, because the conflict is largely domestic and there is no known purpose that terrorist groups involved in the P.I. would wish to spread the conflict by attacking an Australian Olympic target. The kidnapping of 21 European tourists from Malaysia, by Abu Sayyaf militants from the S. Philippines, however, does cause reason for concern that the conflict there may spread to other parts of the region. Such developments must be closely monitored.

The civil strife in Indonesia has not affected Australia in the past and the threat of terrorism has previously been non-existent. However, a number of incidents involving Australian soldiers in East Timor coming under fire and being targeted by the suspected militia group members is a sign of some anti-Australian sentiment is growing. So far no specific threat has been made against Australian troops.

[* Editor's note: This assessment is subject to change at any time, based on emerging threat information or a reassessment of the region in which the Olympics are being held. Additionally, evidence of outside involvement in the Philippines by terrorist elements associated with Usama Bin Laden may be cause for a change in this assessment at a later time. ERRI counter-terrorism (CT) analysts are monitoring events in and around Australia closely and will provide additional updates as circumstances warrant.]

OLYMPIC GAMES SECURITY PROFILES

PROFILE: The Sydney 2000 Olympic Security Team

Key Security Officials:

Commander, Olympic Security Command Centre (OSCC) Commander Paul McKinnon

-- Mr. McKinnon is responsible for command, control and coordination of integrated security arrangements for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

NSW Commissioner Peter Ryan

-- Mr. Ryan works closely with Commander McKinnon and is responsible for ensuring security arrangements at the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games are carried out.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner (Field Operations) Jeff Jarratt

-- State Emergency Operations controller (SEOCON) and a representative for the Standing Advisory Committee on Commonwealth and State Cooperation for Protection Against Violence (SAC-PAV).

Olympic Security Command Centre (OSCC)

The OSCC is responsible for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their mission is to plan a safe, secure and enjoyable Olympic experience staffed with highly experienced senior NSW Police and headed by Commander Paul McKinnon. The OSCC works in close association with SOCOG and other State and Commonwealth agencies.

Olympic Precinct and Regional Operations (OPRO)

The OPRO has the responsibility of dignitary and athlete protection during the Olympic games. A special NSW Police Service and Athletes Protection Unit assigned to this department will provide close personal protection and security to foreign dignitaries and athletes. This unit works closely with the Olympic Intelligence Centre and has access to information from major intelligence agencies. Olympic Investigations Strike Force (OIS)

The OIS was established under the Crime Agencies Command and has the exclusive responsibility for the investigation of specific serious and major matters relating to the games. Under the direction of OSCC Commander Mr. McKinnon or the Commander of the Agencies Command, they will investigate all types of crimes, including white-collar commercial crimes, involving the Olympic Games. The OIS is based in Surry Hills and operates 24-hours a day.

Bomb Detection

The Bomb Detection Unit will be responsible for searching all vehicles carrying VIP's, athletes and officials before entering an Olympic venue. They will also form an advance team with the sole purpose of searching the 56 Olympic venue's and exclusion zones prior to the games. Approximately 1800 personnel will form this unit and have access to the latest in bomb detection equipment and work closely with the Explosives Dog Detection Unit.

Explosives Dog Detection Unit

A special NSW Police unit will provide a bomb-detection dog-squad at all Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic venues. In addition to the dogs already based in NSW, eight American Labradors joined the unit and will perform sensitive counter-terrorist work. All dogs were subjected to an explosives exam and were required to score 100 percent accuracy in detecting 20 different explosive compounds. By identifying the 20 different explosive compounds, the dogs are able to identify 19,000 possible explosive compositions used worldwide.

Athletes Village Protection

Athletes will be closely guarded from external threats while attending the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympic Games. NSW police will form a contingent of 500 personnel maintaining a 24-hour security watch over the Athletes' Village located in Sydney Olympic Park throughout the games. No private security firms will be used in Olympic Park security. A dual perimeter fence encloses the village and is equipped with motion detectors.

Water Police Protection

Sydney Water Police Officers will be responsible for ensuring competitor safety and harbour traffic management during the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympic games. Among the range of already existing police water vessel, 40 new Tactical Assault Class, Ridge Hull Inflatable Boats, Lake Class vessels and eight jet ski's will form the flotilla of security vessels. This unit is not operating exclusively for the Olympic Games and will continue to carry out normal operations and policing duties.

Counter-Terrorist Actions

The National Anti-Terrorist Plan (NATP) has been developed over the past 25-years to deal with terrorist threats and actions. NSW police are reportedly well prepared to "identify and nullify" all possible threats. All government security agencies have been working together and regularly rehearsing the plan in anticipation of a terrorist attack. During the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympic Games all counter-terrorism activities go through the OSCC with key federal agencies, including the Australian Defence Force and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), providing essential support for the regular security team.

Security Volunteer Program

The OSCC recruited 2,500 volunteers from the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service to provide support during the Olympic Games. They will be trained in job specific security tasks and will provide assistance in the event of an emergency.

* All assessments made in this report were independent of those by Sydney 2000 Olympic Security officials. Assessments were based on the latest regional intelligence gathered independently by ERRI.

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