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Ridge issues new security alert

SUMMARY:

U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge issued a new security alert Monday warning of a possible terrorist attack within the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. and Canadian officials signed agreements aimed at strengthening border security and increasing cooperation on law enforcement and immigration procedures.

UPDATE:

Ridge said the number of threats monitored by law enforcement and intelligence sources had increased. U.S. intelligence sources said the threats came from members of the al Qaeda network against U.S. targets. (Full story)

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Canadian counterpart, Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay, signed agreements to increase cooperation on visa and immigration procedures, strengthen security along the border between the two neighbors and share intelligence and law enforcement information to combat terrorism. One of the agreements will give the Royal Canadian Mounted Police access to the FBI's electronic fingerprint database, with more than 42 million files.

A letter delivered to a New York City address near the home of a hospital worker who died of inhalation anthrax went through a New Jersey mail sorter at about the same time the machine processed two anthrax-laced letter sent to two Senate offices, the Postal Service said Monday. (Full story)

Trace amounts of anthrax were found on four pieces of mail-sorting equipment in a postal facility that handled the mail of a Connecticut woman who died of inhalation anthrax, the U.S. Postal Service announced Sunday. The same facility processed mail for the town of Seymour, where one residence received a letter that was found to have a trace of anthrax on it. (Full story)

Six members of Congress -- three from the House and three from the Senate -- could meet as soon as Tuesday to begin hammering out a compromise on an economic stimulus bill. (Full story)

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Who's who   •  Victims   •  Impact

REMEMBERING THE VICTIMS   •  Emergency information   •  Partial list of victims   •  Victims story archives   •  Latest news

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

KEY QUESTIONS:

What order did President Bush give that allows for the detention of terrorism suspects? Click here for more

Could the detainees be held for years? Click here to learn more on one case

Learn about one tool the FBI may be using to investigate suspects.

What is the government doing to fortify homeland defense? Click here for more

What are tips to know in the wake of the attacks? Click here for more

WHO'S WHO:

George W. Bush: U.S. president Click here for more.

Laura Bush: First lady of the United States, she has become more visible since the terrorist attacks, making public appearances urging parents and teachers to help reassure children that everything is being done to try to keep them safe. Click here for more

Tom Ridge: Director of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet-level position Click here for more

Richard Clarke: Head of efforts to safeguard information systems for the Office of Homeland Security Click here for more

Wayne Downing: Retired Army general tapped as deputy national security adviser Click here for more

Joe Allbaugh:The chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Click here for more

Dr. David Satcher: Surgeon General of the United States

Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Click here for more

Rudy Giuliani: Mayor of New York Click here for more

Michael Bloomberg: Mayor-elect of New York

Anthony A. Williams: Mayor of Washington

Dr. Ivan Walks: Director of the Department of Health for the District of Columbia

Paul O'Neill: Treasury secretary

Norman Y. Mineta:Transportation secretary

Jane Garvey: FAA administrator

VICTIMS:

The latest figures provided by federal and local officials give the following numbers of people dead or missing from the September 11 attacks.

WORLD TRADE CENTER: According to New York City officials, 3,380 people are missing and presumed dead, including the 157 on the two hijacked planes; and 460 bodies have been identified.

PENTAGON: 64 dead on hijacked plane; another 125 missing and presumed dead

PENNSYLVANIA: 44 confirmed dead on hijacked plane

IMPACT:

The attacks of September 11 have sparked new debate about balancing the protection of U.S. citizens with the protection of the civil rights of those suspected of terrorism.

While the United States is proud of the freedoms and the legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution, authorities and many citizens have argued those people who seek to destroy America do not deserve such protections while they represent an ongoing threat to the country.

While those arguments continue, so do the threats against U.S. interests. Security remains high at airports, certain industries and many government facilities.

Those who lost loved ones in the September 11 attacks are a little closer to getting compensated from a special federal fund now that someone has been appointed to determine the size of individual awards.