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Threat Assessment: U.S. Threat Level Raised to “Orange” The White House today raised the U.S. terrorism alert level to “orange,” indicating a high risk of attack, according to CNN.com (see GSN, Sept. 10, 2002). The United States had previously been on “yellow” alert, which indicated an elevated risk of attack. U.S. officials recommended that Bush increase the threat level after several days of debate within the administration, according to sources. Today’s action will be only the second time the terrorism alert level has been increased (Kelli Arena, CNN.com, Feb. 7). The U.S. State Department also issued a worldwide terrorist alert yesterday, warning U.S. citizens of a heightened threat of attacks, including suicide attacks and kidnappings, according to the Associated Press (see GSN, Feb. 5). “The Department of State reminds Americans that U.S. citizens and interests are at a heightened risk of terrorist attacks by groups with links to al-Qaeda,” the alert said. While terrorist attacks using conventional weapons pose a more immediate danger, “terrorist use of nonconventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents, must be considered a growing threat,” the alert said (Associated Press/Foxnews.com, Feb. 7). CIA, FBI Warn of Threats The new terrorist warnings come as the CIA and the FBI have both warned of possible terrorist attacks against U.S. targets both here and abroad, according to reports. The CIA believes that al-Qaeda operatives are planning at least two attacks against U.S. interests by the middle of this month, according to the New York Daily News. The attacks, which would coincide with the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj, could involve the use of radiological weapons, the Daily News reported (see GSN, Jan. 31). Al-Qaeda operatives might attempt attacks that “potentially could involve a radiological dispersal device,” and could combine large-scale efforts with “smaller attacks at multiple places around the world,” a CIA warning said. U.S. officials have learned of planned attacks against targets both within the United States and in Saudi Arabia, according to the CIA warning. Al-Qaeda operatives are also planning a possible attack against the U.S. consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, as soon as next week, the warning said (James Gordon Meek, New York Daily News, Feb. 7). U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft warned of an increased risk of a terrorist attack against “lightly secured targets,” such as apartment buildings and hotels (Curt Anderson, Associated Press/Washington Post, Feb. 6).
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