“Security” Measures
Below is a document by numerous agents of the State and security forces. Entertaining, more than anything.
-Event Security Assessment-
World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund 2006
Spring Meetings
Overseas Security Advisory Council
U.S. Department of State
April 22-23, 2006
The following security assessment was compiled from a variety of government and open sources, including various press reporting, World Bank Group, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and activist websites.
Executive Summary
Every spring, the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund’s(IMF) Joint Development Committee and International Monetary and Financial Committee schedule a series of meetings to discuss a range of issues related to
international development. This year, the two
institutions, including 5,000 foreign dignitaries,
representatives of business and non-governmental
organizations, and press will gather on the weekend of April 21-23 to take part in the 2006 WBG/IMF Spring Meetings. During the event, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other federal law enforcement agencies will be out in force to ensure the security of the event and its participants. The two main factors to consider in a comprehensive threat assessment of the WMG/IMF Spring Meetings are the potential threats derived from transnational terrorism and violent anti-globalization protests. Although OSAC is not aware of any specific threat to the 2006 Spring Meetings, as illustrated by the highly publicized August 2004 financial sector threat, Islamic terrorists have a demonstrated interest in targeting the WBG and IMF, among other high-profile institutions symbolic of the Western financial establishment. Additionally, the anti-globalization protests that usually accompany major economic summits conducted by organizations such as the WBG, IMF and the World Trade Organization presented major
security challenges in the past. However, interest in the anti-Iraq War movement has led to a decrease in interest in the anti-globalization movement. As a result, efforts to organize protests against this year?s Spring Meetings
were near absent, and protestor turnout is expected to be low. This report provides an overview of potential threats derived from transnational terrorism and anti-globalization protests. Event logistics for the 2006 Spring Meetings are also included.
…
Security Response to the Spring Meetings
As in years past, the MPD will be taking special measures to secure the WBG/IMF complex during the Spring Meetings. Starting late night on Friday through the end of the event, inner and outer perimeter boundaries will be instituted to restrict vehicular traffic, and access to
the main campus will be limited to registered meetings participants. Federal and local authorities are also coordinating with rental car and truck firms to monitor for any suspicious activities that may indicate a planned
vehicular attack. MPD will place a highly visible law enforcement presence operating at heightened alert in the area of the WBG/IMF complex throughout the duration of the event.
In response to the July London bombings, law enforcement authorities in Washington, D.C. have heightened public transportation security measures. The WashingtonMetropolitan Area Transit Authority increased patrols on the metro and bus systems throughout the District. The threat to public transport is higher during times of high usage, such as weekday rush-hour timeframes,
or during well-attended special events. In this respect, the threat profile for the Spring Meetings is lowered because of the weekend timeframe and the absence of any special events that might draw large numbers of attendees
to the city. And while the Washington, DC tourist season has already started, the city will not see peak tourist numbers until the summer. To compensate for the continued extremist targeting emphasis on hotels, the MPD and various federal agencies are coordinating security precautions with local hotels to secure delegates to the
meetings. Security measures are likely to include
additional patrols and increased surveillance on hotels with high-profile delegates. Washington area hotels will also increase internal and perimeter patrols to secure their facilities. Participants are reminded to report any
suspicious activity to law enforcement officials.
II. Demonstration Threat
Threat Overview
The demonstration threat posed to the 2006 Spring Meetings is considered low. Law enforcement authorities expect protestor turnout to the event to be negligible. Although protest activities are planned, no protest permits have been requested by activist groups, and the MPD do not expect any organized protest activity at Murrow Park, across from the WBG/IMF complex where protestors have
traditionally anchored activities in the past. The
extensive planning efforts conducted to organize protests in past years were completely absent in 2006, and the few actual planned events are expected to attract low numbers. Because of the lack of planning, some protestors will meet on Friday to plan last minute, impromptu activities for the weekend. As a result, a variety of unannounced, unexpected protest activities
may occur throughout the weekend, although participant numbers will remain low.
Planned Demonstrations
Due to the near complete lack of advance demonstration planning, most activities carried out by activists over the weekend of the meetings are expected to be conducted on an impromptu basis, organized on the spot. The few activities that were scheduled in advance will be low-profile, but will allow protestors an opportunity to organize improvised activities and marches that may take place later in each day through to the late night and early morning, as has been the case in the past. To this extent, there is a potential that protestors could arrive
unannounced at delegate hotels, financial institutions and places of business to harass or cause disturbances. In the past, protestors have expressed interest in causing disturbances at delegate hotels at early morning hours to disturb hotel guests? sleep. Protestors may also attempt
to block the progress of delegate vehicles from meetings to other locations by creating road blockades or hampering vehicles in other ways, such as chaining vehicle axles to immobile objects or protestors. The most active day of
scheduled demonstration events will take place on Friday, the day before the core WBG/IMF meetings are scheduled. At midday, street theater sponsored by the Mobilization for Global Justice will take place, accompanied by a media
stunt that as been characterized by activist websites as a “public health inspection.” Friday?s final scheduled event, described as home demonstrations, will take at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, protestors plan to converge on Farragut Square at 7:30 p.m. to stage a march to “capitalist places of interest.” On Sunday, at a time to be announced, protestors will conduct an “IMF Soccer Riot.” No details are available on the specifics of these activities.
Threat of Violence
As with any demonstrations, there exists the possibility that the protest activities surrounding the Spring Meetings could attract radical fringe groups bent on causing disturbances, including vandalism and violence.
Because the protest activities taking place during the weekend will be
impromptu in nature, radical or anarchist groups could take the opportunity to capitalize on the disorganized nature of the activities to cause disturbances. Little information is available on the details of the scheduled protest events, but activist websites have made vague suggestions that the IMF Soccer Riot scheduled for Sunday
may involve demonstrators throwing soccer balls down streets, at buildings or at meeting attendees. During past events, protestors caused minor damage to parked cars in the vicinity of the WGB/IMF complex by scratching paint
jobs, spray painting anti-globalization slogans and affixing bumper stickers. Wrist-rockets and slingshots were used to launch thumbtacks at police officers. The most significant direct action by protestors during the 2004 Annual Meetings was the purposeful, repeated crossing
of the police line at the Ellipse, resulting in numerous arrests. MPD will monitor the activities of anarchist, black block, and other potentially aggressive groups to mitigate possible threats. MPD has in the past been very
effective in this regard, monitoring developing direct actions and impromptu marches and reacting appropriately to contain and direct the groups.
Activist Websites
www.50years.org/ (50 Years is Enough)
www.africaaction.org/campaign_new/debt.php (Africa
Action)
www.afsc.org/ (American Friends Service Committee)
www.answercoalition.org/ (ANSWER)
www.dawndc.net/ (DAWN)
www.dccan.net/ (DC Community Action Network)
www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml (Indy Media)
www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi (Jubilee USA)
www.maydaydc.mahost.org/events.html (Mayday D.C.)
www.sndden.org/rwg/index.htm (Religious Working
Group on the World Bank & IMF)
www.uusc.org/index.shtml (Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee)
www.unitedforpeace.org/ (United for Peace &
Justice)
Schedule of Events
Friday
April 21
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Street Theater, Media /
“IMF Inspection
WBG/IMF facilities
TBA
“Office Demonstrations”
WBG/IMF facilities
8 p.m.
“Home Demonstrations
Unknown
Saturday
April 22
7:30 p.m.
Night March
Start at Farragut Square – march to “capitalist places of
interest”
Sunday
April 23
TBA
“IMF”
III. Spring Meetings Logistics
As in past years, two sets of boundaries will be utilized to secure the immediate vicinity of the WBG/IMF complex.
An inner perimeter will be erected to restrict close-in access to credentialed participants, while a larger vehicular exclusion zone will also be emplaced to create a secure, controlled buffer area around the complex.
Inner Perimeter Boundary: An inner boundary limiting access to registered participants will be implemented on Friday evening through Sunday night. Private sector participants are expected to use one of two pedestrian entrances situated at the north and south sides of the inner perimeter boundary. Security screening will be in
place at the pedestrian entrances, so participants are advised to travel light and allow extra time for security checks.
Vehicular Exclusion Zone: A vehicular exclusion zone (VEZ) will also be emplaced from 5 a.m., Saturday, to 4:30 p.m., Sunday, to create a secure buffer zone for the event. Cars
will not be permitted access to the VEZ, although there will be a specified entry point for selected limousines and other vehicles carrying meeting delegates and WBG/IMF staff. Private sector participants are advised to seek
parking outside the VEZ, and proceed on foot to one of the pedestrian entrances at the inner perimeter. (*NOTE: in previous years, both at the Spring and Annual meetings, MPD activated the vehicular and pedestrian exclusion zones
two to three hours previous to the announced deadline)
Outside the VEZ, H St. will also be closed from 18 St. to 19 St. on Saturday and Sunday.
Perimeters and street closures April 22-23:
18th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
19th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
20th St. from F St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
G St. from 17th St. to 20 St.
F, 17th, and 21St Streets will remain open.
Inner Perimeter
18th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
19th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
20th St. from G St. to Pennsylvania Ave.
Pedestrian entrances will be available at both the North
and South sides of the inner perimeter.
Shuttle Bus Service
Event organizers have instituted a shuttle service that will run between the WBG/IMF headquarters and the hotels listed below starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and 6:30 a.m. on
Saturday and Sunday, through to the end of events on all three days. IMF/WBG credentials or Spring Meetings participant badges must be presented to board the shuttles. Credentials may be obtained during the week leading up to the event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the World Bank’s “H”
building at 600 19th St. Hotel
Location
? Fairmont Hotel
2401 M St., NW
? Four Seasons
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
? Lombardy Hotel
2019 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
? St. Gregory Hotel
2033 M St., NW
? State Plaza Hotel
2117 E St., NW
? Washington Marriot
1221 22nd St., NW
? Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave., NW
IV. OSAC Support
Christopher Medeiros, OSAC’s Event Duty Officer (EDO), will be present at the event on Saturday liaising with law enforcement and event security, and may provide on-ground support to private sector participants as needed. In the event where assistance is required, the EDO may be
contacted at 202-309-5056.
While the risk of terrorist attack to the 2006 WBG/IMF Spring Meetings is consider low, situational awareness and vigilance during any major event is of utmost importance to protect against unforeseen threats. If during the
course of the meetings participants notice any suspicious activity they are encouraged to immediately report relevant information to the MPD or the EDO at the above number.
V. Useful Washington D.C. Emergency Planning Resources Washington D.C. Emergency Information Center
emergencycenter.dc.gov/eia/site/default.asp
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
www.mpdc.dc.gov/main.shtm
Washington D.C. Evacuation Routes
ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1250,q,560885.asp
Ready.GOV from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ready.gov/
Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center
(FS-ISAC)
www.fsisac.com/
