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| US heightens security against possible terror attacks |
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US Attorney General John Ashcroft has announced that his country is on a high state of alert for a terrorist strike. He cited what he said was credible evidence of a possible suicide attack on US interests, most likely abroad.
On the eve of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Ashcroft said the increase in the country's color-coded alert system to indicate a high risk of terrorist attacks was driven in large measure by information received from an operative of the al Qaeda network, blamed for last year's attacks.
He said the decision to raise the threat level to orange, the highest alert level, was based on information collected within the last 24 hours. He also mentioned likely targets, including US corporate interests in the energy and transport sectors, as well as US embassies and military facilities.
Around the clock air patrols by fighter jets were resumed last week over Washington and New York. Security has also been tightened around government buildings in Washington.
Meanwhile, US embassies around the world have been put on a heightened state of alert. Authorities in the Philippines say they uncovered a plot to attack the US embassy in the capital Manila last March or April whilst interrogating an al Qaeda operative with direct access to Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden. Embassies in Indonesia and Malaysia are to be closed on Wednesday.
Editor:Wang Yin
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