Cipherous
12-21-2003, 12:28 PM
US raises terror alert level
The colour-coded alert system was introduced after 11 September attacks
The US Government has raised the nation's terror alert level from "elevated" to "high".
Announcing the move, Tom Ridge, the Secretary of Homeland Security, said they had received credible reports of a substantial increase in threats.
These reports indicated that extremists were planning attacks to exceed or rival those of 11 September, he said.
Mr Ridge suggested the al-Qaeda threat now was greater than at any time since those attacks.
"Your government is at the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to stop terrorist attacks in the holiday season and beyond," Mr Ridge said.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told US television it was likely that the alert would be increased.
US STATES OF ALERT
red (severe)
orange (high)
yellow (elevated)
blue (guarded)
green (low)
He said security experts were trying to determine the extent of the threat.
ABC television reported on Friday that US intelligence intercepts had suggested an increase in terrorist threats to a number of US cities.
On the same day, the Arabic satellite channel al-Jazeera broadcast a tape said to be of Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, in which he taunted the US.
General Myers did not comment on those reports but said: "We take all these intelligence tips very, very seriously."
The five-level colour-coded alert system has been at yellow since 30 May. The last time it was raised to orange was on 5 May.
It has never been at the top red alert
US raises terror alert level (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3335595.stm)
The colour-coded alert system was introduced after 11 September attacks
The US Government has raised the nation's terror alert level from "elevated" to "high".
Announcing the move, Tom Ridge, the Secretary of Homeland Security, said they had received credible reports of a substantial increase in threats.
These reports indicated that extremists were planning attacks to exceed or rival those of 11 September, he said.
Mr Ridge suggested the al-Qaeda threat now was greater than at any time since those attacks.
"Your government is at the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week to stop terrorist attacks in the holiday season and beyond," Mr Ridge said.
Speaking earlier on Sunday, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told US television it was likely that the alert would be increased.
US STATES OF ALERT
red (severe)
orange (high)
yellow (elevated)
blue (guarded)
green (low)
He said security experts were trying to determine the extent of the threat.
ABC television reported on Friday that US intelligence intercepts had suggested an increase in terrorist threats to a number of US cities.
On the same day, the Arabic satellite channel al-Jazeera broadcast a tape said to be of Osama Bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, in which he taunted the US.
General Myers did not comment on those reports but said: "We take all these intelligence tips very, very seriously."
The five-level colour-coded alert system has been at yellow since 30 May. The last time it was raised to orange was on 5 May.
It has never been at the top red alert
US raises terror alert level (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3335595.stm)