| National Terrorist Attack Threat Level Raised | |
Dateline: 09/10/02
For the first time since the system's inception in March, the official National Threat Level of terrorist attack has been raised to condition Orange -- indicating a high risk of attack, from Yellow -- indicating an "elevated" risk. The Orange level remains one step below the highest threat level of Red -- indicating a "severe" risk of attack.
Speaking on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that the action was based mainly on "credible information" suggesting a "high risk of terrorist attacks" against American interests overseas, mainly in Southeast Asia.
"The U.S. intelligence community has received information, based on the debriefing of a senior al Qaeda operative, of possible terrorist attacks timed to coincide with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States," said Ashcroft.
Stressing that no targets inside the U.S. were mentioned in the new information, Ashcroft noted that the intelligence was similar to al Qaeda "chatter" intercepted prior to the 9-11 attacks. "We believe this to be credible information," he said.
Based on "specific intelligence" indicated al Qaeda cells in Asia "have been accumulating explosives since approximately January 2002 in preparation for these attacks," Ashcroft announce that several U.S. embassies and consulates in Asia had been closed.
As a result of the increased threat level, the Department of Transportation announced that all Federal Air Marshals would be called to duty and deployed on both domestic and international flights. In addition, airport security inspections of passengers and luggage will be intensified.
U.S. fighter jets will once again fly patrols over New York, Washington, D.C. and other large U.S. cities on the 9-11 anniversary.
Despite the heightened threat, Ashcroft urged Americans to go about their daily lives as usual and added that all U.S. government agencies would remain open and operating normally.
"We are not recommending that events be canceled, nor do we recommend that individuals change domestic travel plans," said the Attorney General. "We ask that Americans, both at home and abroad, mark the anniversary of last year's savage attacks with a heightened awareness of their environment and the activities occurring around them."
Asking that Americans "make sure that every individual citizen who sees something suspicious reports it," Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge urged parents to discuss the September 11 attacks and "the possibility that those who would do us harm may choose that date ... to do us harm again," with their children.
