Authorities Studying Possible Terror Threats to U.S.

December 19, 2003
By Jim Wolf

U.S. authorities said Friday they were concerned by the volume of terrorist threats at home and overseas on the eve of the busy holiday period but dismissed a report of an imminent threat in New York City.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said there was no truth to an ABC News report of "credible" information pointing to a possible strike against New York City, site of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center by hijacked airliners.

"We are not aware of any credible imminent threat to New York City," said Jim Margolin, an FBI spokesman there. "We are not currently running down anything we would characterize as a credible imminent threat."

A White House spokesman said warnings had been sent to security personnel around the country urging extra vigilance during the holiday season.

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins on Friday night, Christmas falls next Thursday and preparations are under way for new year celebrations.

"We have remained concerned about the volume of reporting of threats and that is why the Department of Homeland Security has sent out several bulletins over the past few weeks to homeland security officials and law enforcement personnel, urging all to continue be on heightened state of alert especially as we enter the busy holiday season," said Scott McClellan, President Bush's spokesman.

ABC News, on its Web site, had quoted unnamed U.S. intelligence sources as saying they had received information about a threat to New York City, possibly by a female suicide bomber.

U.S. stocks dipped briefly after the report but leveled out in early afternoon trading.

"The reaction is very limited and in the view of most traders it is a total non-event," said Keith Keenan, vice president of institutional trading at brokerage Wall Street Access.

"People have become completely numb to these various threats and threat levels and all these warnings from the government. It's becoming somewhat of a farce, to be honest with you," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15244-2003Dec19.html