WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The Justice Department issued a warning against new terror attacks Monday, the second such warning in less than a month.
Attorney General John Ashcroft said the intelligence leading up to the warning was credible but not specific.
"There may be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against United States interests over the next week," Ashcroft said.
The attorney general said the warning went out to more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, as well as federal agencies.
Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge held a conference call with the governors from the 50 states about the terrorist threat, White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan said. He said congressional leaders were alerted, but did not know exactly who was contacted.
Appearing with Ashcroft at a Justice Department news conference, FBI Director Robert Mueller said the information gathered by U.S. officials "is not specific as to intended target or as to intended method."
Neither official gave details.
The FBI issued a similar non-specific warning on Oct. 11. Asked whether the previous warning may have prevented a terrorist incident, Mueller said, "It may well have helped avert such an attack."
Ashcroft asked the public for its "cooperation and patience" as it encounters new security. The new warning places law enforcement agencies on the "highest alert."
The attorney general rejected any suggestion that the new alert might unnecessarily alarm the public.
"We have decided to share with the American people that we have alerted law enforcement" to the new threat, Ashcroft said.
"I trust the American people to be able to understand" such alerts with the war in Afghanistan and the anthrax threat at home, and "that they can make good judgments and they can understand this information," Ashcroft said.
