Transcript: Terror Alert News Conference

Feb. 7, 2003 -- 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.

Since September the 11th, 2001, the Federal Bureau ofInvestigation has evaluated and investigated over 3,000 terroristthreats within the United States, issued 103 warnings to state andlocal law enforcement, and announced three — not including today'sannouncement — three major nationwide terrorist alerts.

The threat condition designation was last raised to high risk onSeptember the 10th, 2002, and reduced to an elevated risk standing twoweeks later.

Today's change in the threat condition designation from elevatedrisk to high risk will trigger a series of security precautions by thefederal government, as well as state and local governments and U.S.citizens, to increase readiness to prevent terrorism.

I have directed that joint terrorism task forcesnationwide coordinate their local response with U.S. attorneys andlocal anti-terrorism task forces. In addition, I have directed thatall appropriate information be shared with the joint terrorism taskforces in order for federal officials to work effectively andcooperatively with state and local officials.

We are not recommending that events be canceled, nor do werecommend that individuals change domestic, work or travel plans. Aswe have in the past, we ask that Americans continue their daily workand leisure activities with a heightened awareness of theirenvironment and the activities occurring around them.

As President Bush recounted in the State of the Union address, wehave arrested or dealt with many al Qaeda key commanders, 3,000suspected terrorists have been arrested worldwide, other terroristshave met a different fate. We've uncovered and stopped terroristconspiracies in the United States, in Yemen, Singapore, Saudi Arabia,the Straits of Hormuz and Gibraltar. We've broken al Qaeda cellsaround the world. And with the support of the American people, wewill prevail in this war on terror.

It's my pleasure now to introduce the secretary of the Departmentof Homeland Security, Secretary Tom Ridge.

RIDGE: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.This heightened threat level has been or is beingcommunicated to local and state law enforcement officials, federalagencies, members of Congress, governors, state homeland securityadvisers, mayors and those who share responsibility for the nation'sprivate infrastructure. Information is also being provided to thenation's first responders: our fire, emergency, health and publicsafety personnel.

The nation's Homeland Security Advisory System provides anational framework to inform and to facilitate actions appropriate todifferent levels of government and to private citizens, either intheir workplaces or in their homes. The system couples the threatlevel with protective measures which should or will be taken to reduceour country's vulnerabilities.

As a result of the increase in the threat level, as a result ofgoing from yellow to orange, elevated to high, specific protectivemeasures will be taken by all federal agencies, both to reducevulnerabilities and many of them actually will, we believe, serve as adeterrent.

Increased security personnel at points of entry may, in fact,limit points of entry and exit, enhanced identification checks,restrictions to travel around federal facilities and airports amongthe many augmented security measures that will be implemented.

As I mentioned before it's very important for you all tounderstand that we've also alerted the medical and public healthcommunities, as well.

Now, at the same time as the federal government is taking action,I want to reassure you that governors, mayors, state and local lawenforcement and private sector managers of the nation's criticalinfrastructure will be taking action, as well.

We are asking all of these leaders to increase their security andvigilance wherever necessary, and we remind them that sometimesvarying their security is a good alternative, depending on theircircumstances, to actually enhancing it.It depends on a lot of circumstances. But doing thingsdifferently can be a deterrent as well.

Now, as the attorney general mentioned, for individual Americans,we ask you to remain aware and remain alert. We are not recommendingthat events be canceled or travel or other plans be changed.

We do recommend that individuals and families, in the days ahead,take some time to prepare for an emergency. The thought occurred tome, traveling to join my colleagues for this public announcement, thatwhen I step across the threshold of the front door at night I'm notsure I'm seen as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security;I'm a husband and a father, a parent and a spouse. And I know a lotof parents and spouses are saying, "Well, what should we do? Whatdoes this mean for us?"

And all I would say to you as a parent and a spouse is, take thetime now to get informed. There are so many available sources ofinformation that you could refer to that will give you and your familyand your businesses and your schools some comfort to know that in theeventuality, with the possibility that something might happen, youhave taken some precautionary measures or taken some steps to minimizethe damage or perhaps to avoid it altogether.

One of the thoughts that I would just simply share with you, it'sprobably not a bad idea to sit down and just arrange some kind of acontact plan, that if an event occurred you want to make sure you can— the family wants to get in touch with one another. That's not abad thing to do to prepare in advance of any kind of emergency,whether it's a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. Doesn't take agreat deal of time. And I think it would make family members a lotmore comfortable if they knew they were able to get in touch with oneanother in the event something happened.

I think there are ways that parents and adults can certainly bebettered informed, because, as we've described to you, terroristattacks really can potentially take many forms. And so by learningmore now about these kinds of attacks, you and your families can bearmed in advance with the kind of information that you might need andthat will be critical to your health and your well-being.

And I would encourage Americans to log onto the department's Website. You can log on to www.dhs.gov to learn more information, tobecome better informed about steps that individuals can take simply tobe better prepared.

The call that we give today, which Americans havecertainly heard before, is based on our knowledge and our convictionthat heightened awareness and readiness deters terrorism and saveslives. Each of us in our own ways can contribute to the security ofour nation, our families and our communities.

Today we call on Americans to continue to persevere in the faceof this evil, in the face of this terror. Because we understand thatby working together not only will we persevere, but we will prevail.

Thank you.

MUELLER: Thank you, Tom.

As already has been stated, recent intelligence reports have ledto the decision today to increase the threat level.

And today, as well as every day since September 11th, the FBI hasstood ready to protect Americans against those who seek to do us harm.And today, as every day since September 11th, the FBI is fullymobilized to respond through our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, whichare comprised of federal agencies, as well as state and local lawenforcement.

The Joint Terrorism Task Forces have been working 24 hours a dayfollowing up on information we may have received.

But I've got to emphasize also, we believe that an alert publicis our strongest asset. If you observe suspicious activity, Iencourage you to contact your local FBI office or your local police,and to report such activity.

I thank you.

And I turn it over to you, General.

Click here to read the transcript of the remainder of the press conference.