For Immediate Release
March 17, 2003
National Threat Level Raised
Statement by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
Fact Sheet
The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland
Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat
level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level
Orange. The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will
attempt multiple attacks against U.S.and Coalition targets worldwide in
the event of a U.S led military campaign against Saddam Hussein. A
large volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are
highly reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to
launch terrorist attacks against U.S.interests claiming they were
defending Muslims or the Iraqi people rather than Saddam Husseins
regime.
While the March 1 arrest of senior Al Qaida operative, Khalid
Shaykh Muhammad (KSM) has put the Al-Qaida senior leadership on the
defensive and will be debilitating in the long term -- the
Intelligence Community believes that KSMs capture will not necessarily
affect operations that are ready or nearly ready for execution. There
are many recent indications that Al-Qaidas planning includes the use of
chemical, biological, and/or radiological materials.
Intelligence reporting also indicates that while Al-Qaida and those
sympathetic to their cause are a principal threat, Iraqi state agents,
Iraqi surrogate groups, other regional extremist organizations, and ad
hoc groups or disgruntled individuals not connected to existing
organizations or state agencies, may use this time period to conduct
terrorist attacks against the U.S., or our interests abroad.
In recent months, there have been reports of suspicious activity in
and around military facilities, ports, waterways, general
infrastructure (bridges, dams, power generating facilities), and
targets that are considered symbolic to U.S.power and influence. The
discovery of ricin production in London raises the concern of the
Intelligence Community that extremists are planning to follow through
on longstanding threats of poison plots against U.S, British and
Israeli interests and possibly other targets in Europe.
The Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with numerous
departments of the federal government has begun implementing increased
protective measures under a comprehensive national plan to protect the
Homeland: Operation Liberty Shield.
Operation Liberty Shield will increase security at our borders,
strengthen transportation sector protections, enhance security at our
critical infrastructure, increase public health preparedness and make
sure all federal response assets can be deployed quickly.
Tonight, I have spoken to the nations Governors and asked them to
deploy the National Guard or additional police forces to improve
security at critical locations throughout their states. Other state,
local and private sector leaders are also being contacted to engage
their support to increase the nations security.
These heightened security measures will help deter terrorism and
increase protection of America and Americans. In the meantime, as on the
other occasions when the national threat level has been increased, we
encourage members of the public to continue their daily work, family
and leisure activities with a heightened awareness.
# # #
|