Al Qaeda Poses New Threat

Feb. 6, 2003 -- Al Qaeda may be gearing up again, according to U.S. law enforcement officials in the United States and overseas.

The U.S. State Department issued what it calls a "Worldwide Caution" advisory today, telling Americans there is a heightened risk of a terrorist attack. This caution, which supersedes one issued in November last year, is particularly significant because, for the first time, it mentions what it calls the "growing threat" that terrorists may use "non-conventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents."

In addition, FBI officials briefed Congress today on its latest national threat assessment, which officially comes out next week and is based on an analysis of which groups the FBI feels may have a presence in the United States, what their activities are, which are likely to take terrorist action and their capabilities.

The FBI concluded that al Qaeda remains the No. 1 threat to the United States, as it is believed to have the capability to carry out attacks domestically and abroad.

The FBI believes that mid-level managers of al Qaeda are able to execute major strikes, despite the hundreds of arrests that have been made, and that al Qaeda's leadership is on the run.

Sources said the convergence of three factors is causing particular concern for officials: the increased "chatter" among the terror networks, the possible coming conflict with Iraq, and the hajj — the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that entered its most important phase today.

Their fears are echoed by other nations' leaders as well.

"We see the al Qaeda network as restructuring," German Interior Minister Otto Schily told ABCNEWS, fresh from meetings Tuesday with Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Schily, Germany's top law enforcement officer, is in the midst of the most exhaustive investigation in his country's history.

German and other intelligence sources say there is mounting evidence that al Qaeda is moving millions of dollars in cash around the world.

Threat Is High

ABCNEWS has learned of a surge in suspected al Qaeda operatives using cell phones and sending e-mails designed for one-use only, making them nearly impossible to trace.

"The threat is as high as it was before the Sept. 11 event," said Schily, "and we see the al Qaeda network as restructuring, and so the threat is taken, to be taken very serious."

U.S. officials are debating whether to upgrade the nation's color-coded five-tier terror status from yellow — the third level, signifying elevated — to orange, the fourth level, which means high.

The government believes al Qaeda is planning another attack and could use conventional explosives to spread radiation.

"They may have the capability to build so-called 'dirty bombs,' not nuclear devices" said Schily. "They were engaged in how to find out how to use biological and chemical substances, but if there is already capability to use these kinds of things … this has to be examined very carefully."

Law enforcement officials around the world have been told to pay particular attention to so-called "soft targets," including hotels, restaurants, places of worship, schools, resorts and sporting events, where there may be less security.

"While conventional weapons such as explosive devices pose a more immediate threat in many areas overseas, terrorist use of nonconventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents, must be considered a growing threat," the advisory said.

Osama bin Laden and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, remain in control of al Qaeda. And sources told ABCNEWS, the United States has received information from Arab allies that bin Laden will release a new recording, signaling a wave of attacks against America — if it attacks Iraq.

U.S. officials are extremely worried, especially during the period leading up to possible war with Iraq.

While the focus is mainly on al Qaeda, the FBI also found in its threat analysis that longtime terror groups, Hamas and Hezbollah, also pose threats to the United States.Of particular concern is whether recent U.S. law enforcement action against Hamas and Hezbollah fund-raising activities in the United States will lead them to change tactics and possibly commit acts of terror within the country.

The assessment also covers homegrown groups, both environmental and Aryan nation.