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HIGH ALERT: U.S. Braces for Attack
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
l'Agence France-Presse

Ashcroft said he was hopeful that, by publicising the new threat and elevating the alert level, the government could "prevent the attacks that might otherwise exist".



Meanwhile, the General Services Administration, which operates and provides security for most of the government's buildings, immediately alerted federal agencies and put in place new security procedures. The agency declined to specify changes, citing security concerns. "We've been at a high state of alert already but we're ramping up a little bit. Most things won't be visible," GSA spokeswoman Viki Reath said.



WASHINGTON -- AFP
New threats against the United States are similar to those that preceded last year's September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush has said.

The president -- who has put the country on its second highest level of alert -- said he was taking the threat "seriously".

"The threats remind u s of pattern of threats we heard prior to September 11," he said.

"We have no specific threat to America, but we're taking it seriously."

America's terror alert status has been stepped up to code orange -- its second highest -- signalling a "high risk."

It is the first time since the terrorist attacks that the level has been set so high.

The elevation was announced by Attorney General John Ashcroft, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Ashcroft cited "specific intelligence on specific attacks on U.S. interests overseas."
(More: News Interactive News Source)
2002 © l'Agence France-Presse (AFP).

I hate one-sentence paragraphs! AFP writes like Bill Shatner acts!

Dan