Transcript: Terror Alert News Conference
Feb. 7 -- Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and FBI Director Robert Mueller spoke to the press about the terror threat level being raised to orange. Below is the complete text of the news conference.
ASHCROFT: Good afternoon.
The United States government continuously reviews intelligencereporting to assess the current threat condition designation and todetermine whether or not it should be adjusted.
After conferring this morning with the Homeland Security Council,the decision has been made to increase the threat conditiondesignation currently classified at elevated risk, to increase thatthreat condition designation to the high-risk category.
This decision for an increased threat condition designation isbased on specific intelligence received and analyzed by the fullintelligence community. This information has been corroborated bymultiple intelligence sources.
Since September the 11th, the U.S. intelligence community hasindicated that the al Qaeda terrorist network is still determined toattack innocent Americans, both here and abroad. Recent reportingindicates an increased likelihood that al Qaeda may attempt to attackAmericans in the United States and/or abroad in or around the end ofthe Hajj, a Muslim religious period ending mid-February 2003.
Recent intelligence reports suggests that al Qaedaleaders have emphasized planning for attacks on apartment buildings,hotels and other soft or lightly secured targets in the United States.
The recent bombings of a nightclub in Bali, Indonesia, and of aresort hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, demonstrate the continued willingnessof al Qaeda to strike at peaceful, innocent civilians and theirability to carry out attacks on such soft or lightly guarded targets.
There are also indications bolstered by the recent arrests inLondon where the chemical, ricin, was discovered. These indicationsdemonstrate al Qaeda's interest in carrying out chemical, biologicaland radiological attacks.
Historically, the intelligence community has indicated that al Qaeda might also seek economic targets, including the transportationand energy sectors, as well as symbolic targets and symbols ofAmerican power.
The United States government has specific intelligenceand experience demonstrating that heightened awareness and readinesson our part deters terrorism. Since September the 11th of 2001, theUnited States has substantially improved its capacity to disrupt,deter and prevent terrorist attacks; terrorist attacks againstinnocent Americans.
The active cooperation of the American people, your cooperation,has been instrumental in preventing major terrorist attacks.
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