By Samantha L. Quigley<br />American Forces Press Service<br /><br />WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2004 -- Homeland Security officials have raised the color-<br />coded threat level to orange, or high, for parts of New York City, northern New<br />Jersey, and Washington, D.C.<br /><br />In an afternoon press conference today Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge<br />cited "new and unusually specific information about where al Qaeda would like<br />to attack," as the reason for the elevation.<br /><br />The elevation of the threat level specifically targets the financial-service<br />sectors of New York City, northern New Jersey and Washington, D.C. The rest of<br />the country remains at a yellow, or elevated, state of alert.<br /><br />By raising the threat level for these areas, protective resources can be<br />brought their highest capacity in and around the buildings that are reportedly<br />al Qaeda targets, Ridge said. Those specific targets are the Citigroup<br />buildings and the New York Stock Exchange in New York City, Prudential<br />Financial in northern New Jersey, and the International Monetary Fund and World<br />Bank facilities in Washington.<br /><br />Ridge said actions to further strengthen security around the buildings are<br />already underway. Additionally, Homeland Security officials are working to get<br />more information regarding any possible targets beyond those named.<br /><br />"Compared to previous threat reporting, these intelligence reports have<br />provided a level of detail that is very specific," Ridge said. "The quality of<br />this intelligence, based on multiple reporting streams in multiple locations,<br />is rarely seen and is alarming in both the amount and specificity of the<br />information."<br /><br />He also said that though the threats, which indicate a physical attack over a<br />cyber attack, are specific in location, the time frame is not firm beyond the<br />period leading up to the national elections.<br /><br />While Homeland Security experts are working with officials from the White<br />House, FBI, CIA and other federal agencies, Ridge said, the governors and<br />mayors of the affected areas also have been brought into the loop.<br /><br />Security measures are being tailored to each specific building with the help of<br />the executive leadership of the companies that own and operate the buildings.<br /><br />"Understandably, security measures at each facility will not be uniform in<br />nature, given the scope and scale of the building architecture, access to and<br />from roads, and other variables," Ridge said. "Certainly, we will not broadcast<br />our intentions to the enemy."<br /><br />Buffer zones to secure building perimeters from unauthorized vehicles,<br />restricting access to underground parking, and tighter screening of personnel<br />entering and exiting the buildings are a few of the measures being taken in<br />light of the new information. Ridge said these measures, seen and unseen, add<br />layers of protection to an already vigorous security effort across the country.<br /><br />The secretary said the kind of information that led to the elevation of the<br />threat level comes from offensive intelligence and military operations overseas<br />and strong partnerships with world allies.<br /><br />"The terrorists should know, in this country, this kind of information, while<br />startling, is not stifling," Ridge said. "Al Qaeda wants to intimidate us and<br />prevent us from enjoying our freedoms. And yet, liberty has no greater<br />protector than the collective will of the American people. So, together let us<br />take inspiration from this strength, and use it to our utmost to keep our great<br />nation safe and free."<br /><br />With many symbolic events and large gatherings -- including the Democratic and<br />Republican national conventions -- this summer, security has been ramped up to<br />unprecedented levels, officials have said.<br /><br />Related Article:<br /> Department of Homeland Security [http://www.dhs.gov]