Attorney-General warns of more attacks

The US Attorney-General has warned that the risk of more attacks on the country will increase as it steps up its war on terrorism.

John Ashcroft, who as attorney-general is in charge of the investigation into the September 11 terror attacks, warned that terrorism had still to be destroyed.

His warning came after a week in which a series of other alleged plots by groups linked to Osama bin Laden have been revealed, including a plan to buy crop-dusting planes which could have been used to launch a chemical attack.

Mr Ashcroft said: "We are in a very serious situation. We believe there are absolutely risks, still, of terrorism in the United States of America.

"As we, as a nation, respond to these attacks on us, those risks will go up."

More than 400 people have been detained in America as the investigation goes on into the attacks but Mr Ashcroft warned there was no guarantee that all the terrorists had been caught.

He said: "There is a clear and present danger to America, not one that should keep us from living our lives, but one that should keep us alert.

"We need to do everything we can to prevent any further attacks on us."

Mr Ashcroft said he saw no reason to provide the "evidence" demanded by the Taliban of Osama bin Laden's involvement in the terrorist attacks.