High alert for the holidays

Dec 29, 2003 12:00 PM

Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge on Monday urged people to "just go about your business" despite the decision to raise the national terror-attack warning to its second-highest level.

After briefing President Bush on Monday, Ridge reiterated to reporters that the intelligence community considered the new threat "the most significant threat" to the country since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"The information we have indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will either rival or exceed" the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Ridge said when the alert status was raised from "yellow" to "orange" on Sunday.

Some of the intelligence information gathered indicates that al-Qaida, is seeking again to use planes as weapons. Ridge says the terrorists are "constantly evaluating procedures ... to find gaps in our security posture that could be exploited."

An official speaking on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that some of the intercepted communications and other intelligence mentioned New York, Washington and unspecified cities on the West Coast. Authorities also are concerned about dams, bridges, nuclear plants, chemical facilities and other public works.

As a result of the change in threat level, all federal departments and agencies are putting action plans in place and stepping up security at airports, border crossings and ports.

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