US braced for terror attack

The US was on a state of high alert today with the warning that the threat of a terror attack during the holidays was “greater now than at any point” since the September 11 atrocities.

The warning came yesterday as the US government raised the national threat level to orange, the second-highest.

Since May, the level had been at yellow, or an elevated risk, and in the middle of the five-colour scale.

“Extensive and considerable protections have been, or soon will be, in place all across the country," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

“Your government will stand at the ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to stop terrorism during the holiday season and beyond.”

Ridge cited reports that Osama bin-Laden’s terrorist network was trying find holes in US aviation security, and that “extremists abroad” were anticipating attacks that would rival or exceed the scope of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The US government elevated the threat level after US intelligence agencies “received a substantial increase in the volume of threat-related intelligence reports”, Ridge said.

“These credible sources suggest the possibility of attacks against the homeland around the holiday season and beyond,” he said.

“These strategic indicators, including al-Qaida’s continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since September 11.”

A senior intelligence official said last week that analysts were particularly concerned about the threat of September 11-style attacks, in which terrorists would use hijacked airliners as weapons.

Ridge said that “recent reporting reiterates that al-Qaida continued to consider using aircraft as a weapon. They are evaluating procedures both here and abroad to find gaps in our security posture that can be exploited.”

As a result of the change in threat level, all federal departments and agencies put in place action plans and stepped up security at airports, border crossing and ports, Ridge said.

He also sought to reassure Americans about the warning, and urged them to use common sense and report anything suspicious, such as packages, and to prepare or review personal emergency plans.

“We have not raised the threat level in this country for six months, but we have raised it before. And as before, Americans can be assured that we know what we must do and we are doing it,” Ridge said.

He urged Americans not to disrupt holiday travel plans. ”America is a country that will not be bent by terror. America is a country that will not be broken by fear,” Ridge said.

He also said officials did not see a connection between the capture of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and the heightened security alert.

The threat level was last raised to orange on May 5.

Authorities reported at the time receiving general intelligence that pointed to possible terror attacks in the United States related to bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco that killed dozens of people.

The threat level was returned to yellow 11 days later.

The lowest two levels, green and blue, and the highest, red, have not been used since the system was put in place in early 2002.

Meanwhile, Australia said today that it was reviewing its security level after the United States raised its alertness because of heightened concerns of a terrorist attack, but said Canberra had no immediate plans to raise its vigilance.