U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY



Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2003



STATEMENT BY HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TOM RIDGE


The Department of Homeland Security in consultation with the Homeland
Security Council, has made the decision to raise the national threat
level from an Elevated to High risk of terrorist attack or Level Orange.
The Intelligence Community believes that terrorists will attempt
multiple attacks against U.S. and Coalition targets worldwide in the
event of a U.S - led military campaign against Saddam Hussein.   A large
volume of reporting across a range of sources, some of which are highly
reliable, indicates that Al-Qaida probably would attempt to launch
terrorist attacks against U.S. interests claiming they were defending
Muslims or the "Iraqi people" rather than Saddam Hussein's regime.


While the March 1 arrest of senior Al Qaida operative, Khalid Shaykh
Muhammad (KSM) has put the Al-Qaida senior leadership on the defensive -
and will be debilitating in the long term -- the Intelligence Community
believes that KSM's capture will not necessarily affect operations that
are ready or nearly ready for execution.  There are many recent
indications that Al-Qaida's planning includes the use of chemical,
biological, and/or radiological materials.


Intelligence reporting also indicates that while Al-Qaida and those
sympathetic to their cause are a principal threat, Iraqi state agents,
Iraqi surrogate groups, other regional extremist organizations, and ad
hoc groups or disgruntled individuals not connected to existing
organizations or state agencies, may use this time period to conduct
terrorist attacks against the U.S., or our interests abroad.

In recent months, there have been reports of suspicious activity in and
around military facilities, ports, waterways, general infrastructure
(bridges, dams, power generating facilities), and targets that are
considered symbolic to U.S. power and influence. 

-more-

The discovery of ricin production in London raises the concern of the Intelligence Community
that extremists are planning to follow through on longstanding threats
of poison plots against U.S, British and Israeli interests - and
possibly other targets in Europe. 

The Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with numerous
departments of the federal government has begun implementing increased
protective measures under a comprehensive national plan to protect the
Homeland: "Operation Liberty Shield." 

Operation Liberty Shield will increase security at our borders,
strengthen transportation sector protections, enhance security at our
critical infrastructure, increase public health preparedness and make
sure all federal response assets can be deployed quickly.

Tonight, I have spoken to the nation's Governors and asked them to
deploy the National Guard or additional police forces to improve
security at critical locations throughout their states.  Other state,
local and private sector leaders are also being contacted to engage
their support to increase the nation's security.

These heightened security measures will help deter terrorism and
increase protection of America and Americans.  In the meantime, as on
the other occasions when the national threat level has been increased,
we encourage members of the public to continue their daily work, family
and leisure activities with a heightened awareness.