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Antiterrorism fight moves to border, court

SUMMARY:

Federal authorities continued their battle against terrorism, inspecting university facilities across the United States for evidence of bioterrorism threats, pledging to reinforce the U.S.-Canada border with new technology and indicting an Algerian man suspected of helping draw up a millennium bombing plot in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the New York Community Trust and the United Way announced the release of an additional $75 million to aid families of victims of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

UPDATE:

A hearing has been scheduled for Thursday afternoon for Zacarias Moussaoui, the first person charged with having a direct role in the September 11 terror attacks, the U.S. Attorney's office in New York announced. (Full story)

Bush administration officials expressed optimism late Wednesday that a deal could be struck soon on an economic stimulus bill following a one-on-one meeting between Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. (Full story)

The U.S. Army has been producing deadly anthrax at its Dugway Proving Ground in Utah but has told FBI investigators that none of the anthrax there is missing, an Army statement said Wednesday. (Full story)

The September 11th Fund announced Wednesday the release of an additional $75 million to aid families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. The fund, established by the New York Community Trust and the United Way of New York City in the aftermath of the horrific attacks, has raised $347 million and had previously released $68 million in grants. (Full story)

The FBI has warned Texas of a "vague" and "unsubstantiated" threat issued against the state's public schools, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday. The threats came "in response to the bombings that are going on in Afghanistan," said Perry.

U.S. and Canadian officials meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, pledged Wednesday to use new technology to secure their vast border while promoting and protecting trade. Officials are looking at using biometric identifiers -- fingerprints, voice recognition, or retina scans -- in travel documents to make it easier to identify people who've been cleared through a screening process. (Full story)

In the wake of the recent anthrax attacks, federal officials Tuesday began an inspection program of university facilities across the United States that conduct research on viruses and bacteria with the potential to be used in bioterrorism, a university official said. (Full story)

A federal grand jury Wednesday indicted Samir Mohamed, an Algerian national being held in Canada, for his alleged role in a plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport during millennium celebrations. Mohamed is accused of assisting Ahmed Ressam, convicted in April of multiple counts related to terrorism. Ressam has admitted he trained for his 1999 bomb mission at a camp in Afghanistan run by Osama bin Laden.

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

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

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, the death toll is 3,040. That figure includes 2,545 people who are missing and presumed dead, including the 157 on the two hijacked planes; 487 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.