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The Bush administration raised the national terror threat level from yellow to orange, meaning there is a “high risk” of terrorist threat. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the change at a news conference Friday afternoon.
The FBI is warning Law Enforcement agencies that there is a heightened danger of attack on apartment buildings, hotels and other “soft targets”, including restaurants and malls. They also caution about particular buildings and events that could be inviting targets for Islamic extremists. Law Enforcement should be mindful of these types of targets and the general heightened level of threat.
The decision was based on an increase in intelligence pointing to a possible attack around or after the three-day Muslim holy period of Hajj, which begins on Sunday. Officials also identified a high level of intercepted terrorist chatter. The decision comes a day after the State Department warned Americans abroad of the threat of new terrorist attacks using chemical or biological weapons.
U.S. intelligence has been intercepting a steadily rising number of conversations among suspected members and sympathizers of al-Qaida. The new intelligence, some of which was described as “very general,” suggested that the possibility of attacks around the world was higher now and indicates an attack is likely sometime this year.
FBI and CIA officials indicate that the threats are vague and contain no specific evidence of an impending attack. One Justice Department official said the volume of reports was larger than normal but did not approach the levels seen in the days leading up to the July 4 holiday or to the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. However, the Defense Intelligence Agency has collected some information overseas indicating a possible attack within the US. FBI officials have not been able to confirm those reports, according to sources.