U.S. urges vigilance for travelers
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ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) - Saying the threat of another terror attack remained high, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge urged Americans Tuesday to be vigilant as they set off on their travels for the Thanksgiving holiday.
"As we enter this holiday season, the United States intelligence community continues to receive and evaluate a high volume of recordings indicating possible threats against the United States and United States interests both at home and abroad," Ridge told reporters after visiting the air marshals' training center near the Atlantic City airport.
Last week, the U.S. government issued an advisory warning of the possibility of an attack on U.S. interests. Ridge said the reasons for the warning included recent suicide attacks abroad and increased reporting by intelligence agencies of possible threats against U.S. interests coinciding with the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.
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"It's certainly created an atmosphere of concern in which increased vigilance here at home, including vigilance within our aviation security system, is prudent," Ridge said. "And this vigilance will help us deter or disrupt terrorist attacks."
He said police and homeland security officials were also urged to be more vigilant around Thursday's Thanksgiving Day holiday.
Ridge said the fact there was no change last week to the color-coded domestic threat level of "yellow" -- signifying an elevated risk of attack -- did not mean there was no threat to the country or U.S. interests.
"If we remain the number one target of al Qaeda, and we are, our interests ... need to be protected," he said, urging Americans not to be lulled into a sense of complacency because the latest attacks occurred overseas. Al Qaeda is blamed for the hijacked plane attacks of September 11, 2001.
The Homeland Security Department has said it is particularly concerned about al Qaeda's continued interest in aviation, including using cargo jets to carry out attacks on critical infrastructure as well as targeting hazardous materials facilities.
"For the foreseeable future, aviation security will be one of the highest priorities in this country, and frankly should be one of the highest priorities around the world," Ridge told reporters earlier as he toured the training center.
Ridge said he believed there would be another attack on the United States. "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," he said.
Copyright 2003
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
