US on "high" security alert

The raising of the alert followed reports of new information indicating that terrorists plan attacks on corporate and financial institutions in New York, Washington, and northern New Jersey.

The United States has raised the terror alert status for the capital, Washington DC, to orange or 'high risk', CRIENGLISH.com reported Monday.

The raising of the alert followed reports of new information indicating that terrorists plan attacks on corporate and financial institutions in New York, Washington, and northern New Jersey.

Speaking in Washington on Sunday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said potential targets included the International Monetary fund and the World bank in Washington and the New York Stock exchange in New York.

The overall United States threat level remains at category yellow although New York City has remained at orange since the September 11th attacks.

Ridge said the intelligence, which came from multiple sources, led him to believe that the threats were specific and credible.

In New York City, officials said there had been meetings of police and Joint Terrorism Task Force members, which include federal agency representatives. The official said city agencies are on high alert.

In early July, Ridge said that al Qaeda was planning a large-scale attack in "an effort to disrupt the democratic process" before Election Day on November 2.

Source: Xinhua