America steels itself for 'imminent' terror attack

Travellers by air, land and sea are facing a massive security alert throughout the holiday period as the United States steels itself against a possible terrorist attack that US government officials say al-Qaida has signalled could be imminent.

President George Bush advised people to “go about their lives”.

“Our government is doing everything we can to protect our country,” Bush said. “American citizens need to go about their lives, but as they do so, they need to know that governments at all levels are working as hard as we possibly can to protect the American citizens.”

A major factor in the decision to raise the US terror alert level from “elevated” to “high” was the holiday season, when more people are distracted and travelling and large numbers of people gather at events .

The latest decision to go from “yellow” to “orange” on the terror risk scale was also based on specific, corroborated intelligence that al-Qaida may soon attempt to pull off a co-ordinated attack in many different places to cause mass casualties – an attack that authorities said might eclipse that of September 11, 2001.

“There are a number of credible sources that suggest the possibility of attacks around the holiday season and beyond,” said presidential spokesman Scott McClellan.

Such attacks, he added, are expected by terrorists being monitored overseas to “rival or exceed the scope” of those on September 11 that killed about 3,000 people.

Several US intelligence and law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had no specifics about a potential method, location or time of any attack. But they continued to point towards aviation as a prime possibility, noting that al-Qaida tends to return to what worked in the past.

“We know, tragically, they turned four airplanes into missiles,” Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told reporters after a meeting of Bush’s Homeland Security Council, which recommended the change in terror threat level on Sunday.

There was information that al-Qaida continued to study potential weaknesses in America’s revamped aviation security net looking for ways to strike again through the air, intelligence sources said.

US officials were discreetly working with their counterparts in Canada and Mexico on improved security measures after intelligence indicated al-Qaida might attack an international airliner that simply passes over US soil, the sources said.

“The information clearly shows they care about getting hold of planes with large fuel supplies in areas with lots of people, and to do it in a way that comes in below our radar screen,” said one senior US official with access to intelligence, speaking only on condition of anonymity.

Cargo planes and flights originating overseas were of special concern. Officials say steps have been taken to improve security in both areas, but some critics call for the screening of all packages on cargo planes to prevent smuggling of bombs.

Robert Bonner, commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection Bureau, said his agency has boosted inspections at all 301 US entry points. Holiday leave was cancelled for Customs and Border Patrol agents.

“We are increasing our scrutiny of both people and vehicles coming into the United States,” Bonner said. “I believe we will be able to increase to correspond to level orange without undue delays.”

The State Department advised all US embassies of the change in terror alert level and had previously issued a worldwide caution about recent terror attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and elsewhere. Spokesman Richard Boucher said threats in those places were not diminished by the increased risk of attack within the United States.

The United Nations also put its headquarters staff in New York on high alert.

The US administration coupled its message of extra vigilance with an appeal to Americans not to abandon plans to travel.

“If you got holiday plans, go. Don’t change them,” Ridge said. “We cannot be burdened by that threat or fear. We need to be alert to it.”

Across the country, security was strengthened at key bridges, tunnels, seaports and landmarks, as well as nuclear and chemical facilities and other installations that might be vulnerable to attack.