The U.S. Announces Serious Threat of Terrorist Attacks

The U.S. government has issued a serious warning regarding the likelihood of terrorist attacks, stating that the risk of such attacks within the U.S. is at its highest since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Additionally, the State Department has declared a global state of emergency concerning potential terrorist attacks for all Americans abroad. Tom Ridge, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, stated in a press conference in Washington that recent intelligence indicates that 'foreign extremists' are planning large-scale attacks similar to or more severe than the September 11 operations. He added that the U.S. response is based on the increasing number and credibility of reports related to terrorist attacks and the possibility of terrorists using airplanes as weapons. Reports have emerged over the past week indicating a heightened risk of attack during the Christmas holiday period in the United States. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has confirmed the authenticity of an audio tape from al-Qaeda that was broadcast on Friday, which reportedly features Osama bin Laden's deputy threatening attacks against the U.S. and its allies anywhere, even within their own countries. This marks the fifth time that the likelihood of terrorist attacks has been seriously elevated, with the last occurrence being in May when the U.S. raised the threat level to 'orange' for ten days.