SOURCES: Major Terror Attack Possible This Summer

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

(10:29 PM ET) (02:29 GMT)

By Kelli Arena

CNN Washington Bureau

An official with the Department of Homeland Security said the agency remains concerned about the general al Qaeda threat, but had no new specific information: "We are not aware of any new highly credible intelligence indicating a planned attack in the U.S. this summer. Nothing in the current intelligence is exceptionally specific."

WASHINGTON -- CNN
Several U.S. officials said Tuesday that intelligence indicates there is increasing concern about the possibility of a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil, perhaps as early as this summer.

Such an attack might take place before the November presidential election in an attempt to affect the outcome, the officials said.

For weeks, security officials have expressed concern about several upcoming high-profile events, including Saturday's dedication of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Other potential targets include the G8 economic summit on Sea Island, Georgia, Fourth of July celebrations, the Democratic convention in Boston, the Republican convention in New York, and the Olympics in Greece.

Although there is no specific target, time or date for the possible attack, the information is the culmination of intelligence that has been known and gathered over time -- and it is the assessment that is new, the sources said.

The FBI is likely to issue alerts for several individuals the bureau would like to locate in the coming days, two counterterrorism sources told CNN.

(More: CNN.com / U.S.)

2004 © Cable News Network LP, LLLP.

Dan