Ashcroft Sounds New Terrorism Warning

Attorney General John Ashcroft and other government officials have issued a renewed warning about possible terrorist attacks over the next few days, news services reported.

The FBI, and other agencies made the announcement late Monday, saying that terrorists could strike at U.S. interests as early as this week. The attacks would be in response to the U.S. bombing campaign on Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported.

The warning, the second one issued in October, was made because officials received credible information indicating an attack may be imminent, Ashcroft said. Again the information did not say there was a specific plan in place or time frame for an attack, according to the AP.

Newly installed Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said citizens should get used to such warnings and get used to being cautious.

The Washington Post said that the intelligence sources have found that Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants have delegated attack authority down the chain of command. According to the paper, the FBI has identified at least six terrorist cells operating in the United States.