U.S. raises terror alert level to high
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 3:51 pm
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories
Facing reports of a terrorist attack timed to coincide with the busy Christmas travel season, the United States government has raised its national threat level from yellow, the midpoint on its five-colour scale, to orange.
The orange level represents a threat level that is considered "high." The previous level was "elevated."
At a press conference, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said the possibility of attacks was "greater now than at any point since Sept 11."
He added that a "substantial increase" of information from credible sources suggests that extremists are planning attacks to "rival or exceed the scope" of Sept. 11.
Ridge also said there would be enhanced security at airports and additional patrols by Coast Guard ships and aircraft.
He said “extensive and considerable protections” would be in place “all across the country” to deal with unspecified threats related to the holiday season.
The heightened airport security was necessary, Ridge said, because officials “continue to hear interest in using aircraft as a means of attack.”
The change in alert level comes shortly after an audiotape from Osama bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, was aired on the arabic TV network Al Jazeera.
A tape from bin Laden himself emerged Saturday, but the CIA claimed it was not a new recording.
Ridge also said there was no connection with the recent capture of Saddam Hussein.
The U.S. Terror Alert System has five separate levels. Green indicates a “low” threat level, blue is “guarded”, yellow is “elevated”, orange is “high” and red is “severe”.
The last time the U.S. raised the domestic terrorism threat level was this past May, immediately after suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco that were blamed on al Qaeda. The orange alert last 10 days before the threat level was returned to the yellow “elevated” level.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15055
Facing reports of a terrorist attack timed to coincide with the busy Christmas travel season, the United States government has raised its national threat level from yellow, the midpoint on its five-colour scale, to orange.
The orange level represents a threat level that is considered "high." The previous level was "elevated."
At a press conference, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said the possibility of attacks was "greater now than at any point since Sept 11."
He added that a "substantial increase" of information from credible sources suggests that extremists are planning attacks to "rival or exceed the scope" of Sept. 11.
Ridge also said there would be enhanced security at airports and additional patrols by Coast Guard ships and aircraft.
He said “extensive and considerable protections” would be in place “all across the country” to deal with unspecified threats related to the holiday season.
The heightened airport security was necessary, Ridge said, because officials “continue to hear interest in using aircraft as a means of attack.”
The change in alert level comes shortly after an audiotape from Osama bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, was aired on the arabic TV network Al Jazeera.
A tape from bin Laden himself emerged Saturday, but the CIA claimed it was not a new recording.
Ridge also said there was no connection with the recent capture of Saddam Hussein.
The U.S. Terror Alert System has five separate levels. Green indicates a “low” threat level, blue is “guarded”, yellow is “elevated”, orange is “high” and red is “severe”.
The last time the U.S. raised the domestic terrorism threat level was this past May, immediately after suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco that were blamed on al Qaeda. The orange alert last 10 days before the threat level was returned to the yellow “elevated” level.
Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:1809, old post ID:15055
