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US fears more terror attacks next week

In a hastily convened press conference on Monday night, United States Attorney General John Ashcroft said terrorists might attack targets in the United States or US interests abroad 'over the next week'.

Ashcroft said the law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert, and asked the public to be vigilant.

"The administration has concluded, based on information developed, that there may be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against United States' interests over the next week," Ashcroft said.

"The administration views this information as credible but unfortunately it does not contain specific information as to the type of attack or specific targets," he added.

It was the first such public warning since a similar Federal Bureau of Investigation advisory on October 11, exactly one month after the terror strikes on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon that left more than 5,000 people dead.

Asked whether that advisory averted terrorist attacks, FBI director Robert Mueller had replied: "It is very difficult to tell, but it may have well have helped to avert such an attack."

Just hours after the warning, an American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from New York to Dallas, Texas, Monday evening was diverted to Washington's Dulles International Airport after a threatening note was found on the plane, CNN said.

Flight 785 had taken off carrying 141 passengers and a crew of eight when the note was found.

The FAA ordered the flight to Dulles, where the passengers exited via emergency chutes as officials closed off the western side of the airport.

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