26 replies to this topic

[DC09]

WASHINGTON - The federal government warned Sunday of possible terrorist attacks against "iconic" financial institutions in New York City, Washington and Newark, N.J., saying a confluence of chilling intelligence in recent days pointed to a car or truck bomb.


The government said the new intelligence indicated the meticulous planning of al-Qaida. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge identified explosives as the likely mode of attack, as opposed to a chemical or biological attack or a radiological "dirty" bomb.


In an unprecedented action, the government named these specific buildings in densely populated areas as potential targets:


Citigroup buildings and the New York Stock Exchange in New York City.


The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank buildings in Washington.


Prudential financial in northern New Jersey.


"The preferred means of attack would be car or truck bombs," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in a briefing with journalists. "That would be a primary means of attack," he said.


The government said the new intelligence indicated the meticulous planning of al-Qaida. Ridge identified explosives as the likely mode of attack, as opposed to a chemical or biological attack or a radiological "dirty" bomb.


Ridge said the government's threat level for financial institutions in just these three cities would be raised to orange, or high alert, but would remain at yellow, or elevated, elsewhere.

Full Article

  

[Talon]

'SPECIFIC' THREAT OF ATTACK

The US increased the terrorist threat level for parts of New York and Washington after receiving intelligence that al Qaeda is to attack specific buildings.                  

Financial services districts of New York, Washington and the northern part of New Jersey state close to New York are now on "high" alert.


Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said he was "alarmed" by the "specificity" of the intelligence coming in that suggested attacks on the IMF and World Bank in Washington, the Citibank in New York and the Prudential building in New Jersey.      

Mr Ridge said the biggest threat was of attacks using truck bombs.      

"I ask our citizens for their watchful eye as we continue to monitor this situation," Mr Ridge told a press conference.      

He said the intelligence was "unusually specific" although he said there was no information on whether the attacks were imminent.      

"We know where, but we do not know when," Mr Ridge told reporters.      

It means the areas singled out will have their terror threat levels raised from "elevated" to "high".      

Mr Ridge said government security experts were in consultation with financial institutions to discuss how security could be bolstered.      

He admitted that "this is sobering news" and urged Americans to be vigilant.        

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said this was the first such "extraordinary" intelligence report that was related to specific buildings.  

"The principle threat to the financial institutions in New York city is by bombing either through a large vehicular bomb or by an individual trying to smuggle explosives in to a building by backpack or package," Kelly said at a press briefing.  

He said companies should give special attention to parking facilities and should safeguard heating and ventilation systems from "being used to deliver chemical or biological agents".  

"Of the two threats, explosive or chemical, explosives are considered more likely at this time," he added.

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[doomgirl]

I would think that any major city in the US would be a target and not just around New York   

[Stellar]

Lol... watch the US expecting a car/truck bomb in New York, and instead being hit 9/11 style in Seattle and Chicago.

I would really like to know... the US says that Al Qaida wants to use WMDs against the US. They planned to use Sarin in Jordan... but what makes them think that right now they're NOT going to use any WMDs in the truck bombs? I think that car/truck bombs would only be a preparatory attack while something bigger is waiting to be executed. You know... they plan for years on something big, and inbetween they do small things to keep the people scared.

[Falco Rex]

I'm not sure the LOL was really appropriate when we're talking about terrorist attacks..
They've been talking about possible distraction attacks forever now, but I think in reality it's getting hard enough just to plan and execute a regular attack within our borders without the extremely complicated plot thrown into the deal..

[Stellar]

[Babs]

I just heard that we want the borders open for the terrorists to come in. That way we can know what the terrrorists are up to and can nab them or deal with them the best possible way. (kill them    ).

Edited by Babs, 02 August 2004 - 11:38 PM.

[Fluffybunny]

[wunarmdscissor]

mmmm interesting that this is so close to the UK and American elections eh.....

Not that would ever believe our governments to get involved in this sort of jiggerpokery lol.

[joc]

[Dancing_Dumplings]

they said that there might be an attack during DNC week....got eveyone all paranoid and stuff....but did anything happen....nope....all we got was no newspaper boxes and balloon frustration.
altho do they really have to alert us to potential terror acts? warned or not...it would still be devistating and horrid.  telling people bout all the terror threats just makes people scared and paraniod...isnt that what the terrorists want? is to scare the living crap outta us?

Edited by Anti_girl17, 03 August 2004 - 12:12 PM.

[wunarmdscissor]

ahh nothin really i was only kddin to be honest lol.

[Stellar]

[KindredSpirt4125]

[Babs]

Fluffy...I was for 'shutting down the borders' in terrorist times. I just heard on the news that we actually want the borders open to get a better handle on the terrorists.