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Decision based on intelligence assessment, recent arrests
The US terrorist threat level has been lowered to "elevated"
-- or code yellow -- based on a review of intelligence assessments
and because of the disruption of potential terrorist operations
both in the United States and abroad, Attorney General John
Ashcroft and Homeland Security Advisor Tom Ridge announced
September 24.
"The lowering of the threat level is not a signal to
government, law enforcement or citizens that the danger of
a terrorist attack is passed," they said in a joint statement.
"Returning to the elevated level of risk is only an indication
that some of the extra protective measures enacted by government
and the private sector may be reduced for the time being."
President Bush approved the change in terrorist threat levels
September 24 after Ridge convened the Homeland Security Council
earlier in the day and recommended the change, according to
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer. "All these
factors, intelligence, recent arrests, and the passing of
the September 11 period allowed the president late this morning
to make the decision to lower the threat," he said at
a briefing.
The announcement came two weeks after the president ordered
the terrorist threat level raised to "high risk,"
or code orange -- the second highest level.
Ashcroft and Ridge, in their statement, said the decision
to reduce the threat level was based, in part, on recent arrests
of six men in suburban Buffalo, New York, who are alleged
to have provided material support to the international terrorist
network al Qaeda.
Following is the text of the joint statement >>>>
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