The Department of Homeland Security Terrorist Threat Level remains at the “Orange” alert, or “High” alert level. This level is designated when the government believes that there is a high risk of terrorist attacks.
Bomb threats against three U.S. passenger jets and two Amtrak trains triggered extensive security checks on Tuesday but no explosives were found, authorities said. Security officials, aided in some cases by sniffer dogs, took hours to sweep through the planes operated by Northwest Airlines. But the searches, of passengers and luggage as well as the airliners themselves, ended without incident. The aircraft included one that arrived at Detroit's Metropolitan Airport on a flight from Miami, according to a spokeswoman for Northwest.
Meanwhile, US law enforcement and intelligence officials are urging heightened vigilance over the nationa’s rail and road networks, fearing terrorist attacks during the upcoming summer months.
U.S. officials have received intelligence indicating terrorists might attempt to slip into the United States using cultural, arts or sports visas, according to the FBI. The bureau issued a bulletin to 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide warning about the potential misuse of P-visas, one of several types granted by the State Department for people visiting the United States for artistic, cultural or athletic purposes. "Recent intelligence indicates that terrorist groups may be interested in exploiting cultural visa programs to infiltrate operatives and support network into the United States," says the bulletin, described Thursday to The Associated Press by a federal law enforcement official.
The US will require fingerprints from virtually all foreign visitors from September, in a massive expansion of a program designed to keep terrorists out of the US. The US Homeland Security Department announced on Friday it would end the exemption from the US-Visit scheme for the 27 visa-waiver countries, which include western Europe and Japan. US officials had told their European counterparts they were considering such an expansion, which could raise new tensions between the US and Europe over travel and data privacy issues.
The month of April commemorates several Christian and Jewish holidays. Law Enforcement and Intelligence Professionals caution that terrorists could target religious ceremonies and institutions in response to these celebrations. Al Qaeda and other associated Islamic terrorist groups have launched a holy war against Jews, Christians, Hindus, and even moderate Muslims. Houses of worship and religious institution remain targets in the current threat of terrorists targeting "soft targets". Such sites may be vulnerable during periods of religious significance.
Christian Holidays
Holy Thursday: April 8, 2004
Good Friday: April 9, 2004
Holy Saturday: April 10, 2004
Easter Sunday: April 11, 2004
Jewish Holidays
Passover: Sundown April 5 - Sundown April 13, 2004
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