US warns of new terror attack more deadly than Twin Towers atrocity

THE US State Department warned, two years after the devastation of the World Trade Centre, that al-Qaida could stage a new strike “more devastating than the September 11 attack.”

The attacks could target European or Eurasian locations "possibly to closely coincide with the anniversary of the September 11 attack", said the warning.

"We expect al-Qaida will strive for new attacks that will be more devastating than the September 11 attack, possibly involving nonconventional weapons.

"We also cannot rule out the potential for al-Qaida to attempt a second catastrophic attack in the US," the statement said. There could be "suicide operations, hijackings, bombings or kidnappings", the warning added.

Likely targets are facilities where US citizens and other foreigners congregate, "including residential areas, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, outdoor recreation events or resorts and beaches".

The State Department cautioned that US facilities worldwide could be closed temporarily "to assess security". The colour-coded alert introduced after September 11 is currently at the third-highest level, yellow, or "elevated". It has been at yellow or orange "high" for the past two years.

Despite the billions of dollars spent on security after September 11, the constant warnings have helped keep the US public fearful of new attacks, but the domestic security chief forecast yesterday that the US would live in safety again. Tom Ridge, the secretary of homeland security, highlighted the huge defences built up in the last two years and said he could see a day when the alert would be reduced to the lowest levels.

Ridge highlighted the 50,000 government security guards now monitoring passengers at US airports and ports, the greater inspections of US-bound cargo at foreign ports and the stockpiling of one billion doses of antibiotics and vaccines, including enough smallpox vaccine for every person in the US.

"Just as the US adjusted its priorities and tactics to defeat the enemies of old, we have now developed a new set of strategies to meet the current and constant threat," Ridge said.

Green (low) and blue (guarded) are the two lowest levels on the US terror alert system. Opposition Democrats have accused the government of devoting too much attention to Iraq and underfunding the general war on terrorism after September 11, 2001.

Hillary Clinton, US senator and wife of ex-president Bill Clinton, said the administration does not take seriously enough the "problems of frontline defenders" guarding airports and borders.