Monday, December 22, 2003 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

U.S. put on high alert for terrorism attacks

By John Mintz

The Washington Post

Tips for travelers

For air travelers, the Transportation Security Administration says the new "high" terror threat level means:

• Increased random vehicle inspections and law enforcement at airports and their perimeters.

• More officers with police dogs patrolling airports.

• Parking restrictions.

• Additional signs and public announcements reminding people to report unattended baggage or suspicious activity.

• The possibility of long security check-in lines, especially during the holidays. To help keep the lines moving, passengers should remove metal items from their pockets and put them in carry-on luggage, take laptop computers out of luggage for inspection, take off coats and be prepared to take off shoes.

The Federal Aviation Administration advises private pilots to check with the FAA because new airspace restrictions are in place.

At U.S. borders, U.S. Customs officials say the elevated threat level means:

• Intensive inspections at airports, seaports and land border crossings.

• Additional identification checks at land borders, and more searches of vehicles and trunks.

• Increased examination of cargo.

The Associated Press

America's warning system

The Homeland Security Advisory System uses colors to indicate the current level of risk from terrorist attacks. Here is a look at each level and how it may affect your daily routine:

• RED, for "severe" risk of terrorist attacks: Inform family and friends of the risk and avoid crowded public areas and gatherings; monitor communication systems for news; expect delays and restrictions.

• ORANGE, for "high" risk: Exercise caution when traveling, have shelter-in-place materials on hand; expect baggage searches and some delays at some facilities.

• YELLOW, for "elevated" risk: Check telephone numbers and e-mail addresses in your communications plan; develop alternative routes to and from work; have a neighborhood meeting to identify people who need special assistance in case of an emergency.

• BLUE, for "guarded" risk: Develop emergency communication plan with family, neighbors and friends.

• GREEN, for "low" risk.

WASHINGTON — Saying fresh intelligence suggests al-Qaida is planning multiple catastrophic terrorist attacks in the United States, federal officials yesterday raised the national threat-alert status to "high risk," or code orange.

Administration officials previously had said they would be reluctant to take that step except in the most unusual circumstances.

Some of the worrisome new intelligence indicates al-Qaida operatives are exploring security vulnerabilities on commercial or cargo flights originating overseas and flying into U.S. airports, officials said. It suggests the terrorist network is preoccupied with repeating its Sept. 11, 2001, tactic of hijacking aircraft for use as missiles against U.S. targets, they added.

"The strategic (intelligence) indicators, including al-Qaida's continued desire to carry out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any point since September 11th," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said at a news conference yesterday. "Information indicates that extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe will rival, or exceed, the attacks in New York (and) at the Pentagon."

Officials said they have no specific information on where or when an attack might be planned.

Raising the alert level to orange, or "high risk," from yellow, or "elevated risk," results in stepped-up security procedures across the country to protect government buildings, critical infrastructure such as nuclear plants, railroads and harbors, and shopping malls and other locations where people congregate.

At U.S. airports yesterday, security screeners and police mobilized in response to the alarm. Some airports, such as Baltimore-Washington International, prepared to bring out more bomb-sniffing dogs to patrol the terminals. At others, parking was restricted at some garages closest to airport terminals, and screeners were advised by supervisors to be extra vigilant.

Ridge made the announcement of the alert status at his agency's headquarters in Washington 90 minutes after President Bush approved the recommendation by top officials of Ridge's department, the FBI, CIA, Pentagon, Justice Department and the White House.

New information analyzed Friday about al-Qaida efforts to penetrate foreign airports and airlines was soon deemed "credible," officials said. That information came from "a reliable source that has been corroborated by other things we know," one official said, declining to elaborate.

Officials decided to take action upon combining this new information with evidence that al-Qaida terrorists around the globe were saying in telephone calls and e-mails that they expected a series of synchronized attacks in the United States around the holidays, officials said.

"The extremists were expecting a very near-term attack in the United States," one Homeland Security official said. The government picked up "so many credible threats" that officials concluded they had to take action, the official added.

In recent months, Homeland Security officials had stated they would avoid frequent raising and lowering of the threat alert out of fear that Americans would become nonchalant about their warnings.

Earlier this year, the government sounded three orange alerts in four months, and many citizens, as well as public officials — especially those living far from the perceived top targets of Washington and New York — simply ignored them.

There were no attacks in the previous cases, a safety record that Ridge said may have resulted from the heightened vigilance.

Government officials said they overrode their skepticism of invoking another orange alert because they are deeply alarmed about the possibility of attacks during or just after the holidays.

"There was a consensus in the intelligence community that we go up" to orange alert, Ridge said yesterday.

In making the announcement, Ridge was facing a complex public-relations quandary — how to warn Americans they could be targets in this economically key and heavily traveled holiday season but urging people to continue to enjoy the seasonal festivities.

"I encourage you to continue with your holiday plans," he said. "Gather with your family and friends. ... We will show the terrorists this holiday season both our goodwill toward our fellow men, and our readiness and resolve to protect our families."