Terror-threat level increased to 'high'

[thedrifter]

Terror-threat level
increased to 'high'
Intelligence community picks up 'chatter' about possible al-Qaida attack within U.S.

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Posted: May 20, 2003
3:00 p.m. Eastern



? 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Citing "chatter" picked up by the intelligence community, the Homeland Security Department, in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, raised the terror-alert level to orange or "high."

Simultaneously, the FBI issued a new warning today to local law enforcement officials to be on the alert for a possible al-Qaida terrorist attack within the United States.

The FBI bulletin said that last week's terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco could be a "prelude to an attack on the U.S."

The agency emphasized it had no specific information about a planned attack or target. The bulletin is described as a continuation of an alert issued Friday.

"The May 12 bombings in Saudi Arabia indicate that the al-Qaida network remains active and highly capable," the FBI said in Friday's bulletin. "The U.S. intelligence community assesses that attacks against U.S. and Western targets overseas are likely; attacks in the United States cannot be ruled out.''

"There is a legitimate cause for concern," a U.S. official told Fox News. The official described the "chatter," or intercepts, as coming from a number of "quality sources" and said the information is more solid than that which led to raising the terror level in the past.

Also today, the State Department closed its embassy and consulates general office in Saudi Arabia amid fears of imminent attacks.

The United Kingdom followed suit.

The decision to raise the terror-threat level came out of a meeting between Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, President George W. Bush and members of the Homeland Security Council at the White House this afternoon.

The five-point color scale of risk was developed after the 9-11 attacks. The highest alert level is red. It represents a "severe" level of risk.

As WorldNetDaily reported, the Homeland Security Department last raised the terror-threat assessment to high following Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein on March 18, as the intelligence community expected terrorists would attempt multiple attacks against U.S. and coalition targets worldwide in the event of a U.S.-led military campaign in Iraq.

"Al-Qaida may be in the last stages of planning for large-scale attacks," officials warned in March. "There are many recent indications this planning includes the use of chemical, biological, and/or radiological materials."

Following the collapse of Hussein's regime, officials lowered the threat advisory level back down to an "elevated" risk of terrorist attack, or the yellow level on April 16.

The threat condition designation alert was raised to "orange" two other times, including on Feb. 7 when Attorney General John Ashcroft cited reports that al-Qaida leaders were planning for attacks on apartment buildings, hotels, synagogues, Jewish community centers and other "soft" or lightly guarded targets



Sempers,

Roger