*EPF205 09/10/2002
U.S. Upgrades Terrorist Threat Condition to Second Highest Level
(Intelligence sources point to potential terrorist strikes abroad) (670)

By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr.
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The United States has upgraded its terrorist threat alert to the second highest level -- code orange -- indicating a "high risk" based on specific intelligence reports and analysis that point to potential terrorist attacks at U.S. facilities and interests worldwide, Attorney General John Ashcroft says.

The increased terrorist threat alert was announced September 10 at a Justice Department briefing by Ashcroft, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

"The U.S. intelligence community has received information, based on debriefings of a senior al Qaeda operative, of possible terrorist attacks timed to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the United States," Ashcroft said. "Information indicates that al Qaeda cells have been established in several South Asian countries in order to conduct car-bomb and other attacks on U.S. facilities. These cells have been accumulating explosives since approximately January of 2002, this year, in preparation for these attacks."

Code Orange is the second-highest of five levels of threat security and requires the U.S. government to take extra precautions at public events and to coordinate efforts with law enforcement agencies and the U.S. armed forces. It is one step below "severe risk" of terrorist attack. Access to various government installations is restricted to only "essential personnel."

Additionally, Ashcroft said intelligence reports indicate that one or more individuals in the Middle East are preparing for a suicide attack or attacks against U.S. interests. He said that the reports indicate the most likely targets of the al Qaeda attacks would be in the transportation and energy sectors, and at facilities or gatherings worldwide that are symbols of American power or security.

President Bush, during a visit to the Afghanistan embassy in Washington September 10, said, "the threats that we have heard recently remind us of the pattern of threats we heard prior to September the 11th (last year). We have no specific threat to America. But, we're taking everything seriously."

Vice President Dick Cheney left the White House for a secure, undisclosed location, and cancelled a September 10 evening speaking engagement, the White House announced.

"This heightened threat level has been or is being communicated to local and state law enforcement, federal agencies, members of Congress, governors, state homeland security advisors, and representatives of the private sector," said Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. "The nation's homeland security advisory system provides a national framework to inform and facilitate decisions appropriate to different levels of government and to private citizens either at the workplace or at home.

"The system couples the threat level with protective measures that will be taken to reduce our country's vulnerabilities."

Ashcroft said that low-level al Qaeda operatives may view the September 11th anniversary as a suitable time to lash out in even small strikes to demonstrate their worldwide presence, suggesting that unsophisticated strikes are possible.

"The specificity of some of the information and analysis has contributed to the decision to close four U.S. embassies in Southeast Asia and to elevate our security at all overseas diplomatic and military facilities," he said.

The State Department issued a notice of "worldwide caution" to Americans abroad, citing potential terrorist threats, which will remain in effect until October 31, department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The U.S. government closed nine embassies and one consulate September 10 on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks, according to the State Department. Those facilities are in Indonesia, Bahrain, Vietnam, Pakistan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Malawi, Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Embassies in six countries -- Cote d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Oman, South Africa, Mozambique and Brunei -- were to close September 11 for commemorations, according to the State Department. Embassies in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Micronesia and Mauritius were to close September 10 for local holidays.

The Defense Department set its official threat condition at "Threat Condition Charlie," the second-highest level on a four-tier scale. However, the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, with some 4,000 military personnel, was put on the highest alert -- "Threat Condition Delta" September 10, the Pentagon said.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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