NZ keeps Saudi embassy open despite growing security threats

12.00pm

New Zealand and Australia will keep their embassies open in Saudi Arabia for now, despite decisions by the United States, Britain and Germany to close theirs amid growing security concerns.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat), Emma Reilly, said the Riyadh embassy was open Riyadh post was open normal business hours, despite a spate of suicide bombings targeting westerners last week.

A Saudi diplomat in Washington has warned that the same operatives could be planning a much bigger operation.

However, Ms Reilly said the decision to stay open was "based on current information".

"We are keeping an eye on the situation and we're in constant communication with the Riyadh post itself."

It was standard practice for diplomatic posts from different nations to keep in contact with each other in a particular country.

Any help given by the New Zealand post to other foreign nationals would depend on specific arrangements made, she said.

"Australia has also elected to keep its embassy open, so we're not alone."

The US government's decision to raise the alert level to "high" or orange from "elevated" or yellow was made "based upon the recent terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco, also in conjunction with intelligence reports concerning anti-US terrorist groups' intentions," said Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson.

"The United States' intelligence community believes that terrorists continue to plan attacks against targets in the United States," he told reporters.

The FBI said earlier that the suicide bombings last week in which a total of 75 people were killed could herald attempts to carry out an attack on the United States, though it said it had no specific threat information.

"Recent intelligence suggests (these) attacks may be a prelude to an attack on the United States," the FBI said in a message to law enforcement agencies.

The last time the government raised the terror alert to orange was on March 17, the eve of the war with Iraq when officials feared potential retaliation on the United States. It was lowered to yellow one month later.

There is one level higher than orange - red or "severe risk" - in the five-level alert scheme created last year. It has generally remained in the middle at yellow.

Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge, who met with President George W Bush as the latest FBI warning was released, said in a statement that al Qaeda and its sympathizers were still the main danger but threats could also come from anti-US terror groups, regional extremists or "disgruntled individuals".

He said the US intelligence community believed al Qaeda had entered an "operational period" worldwide which could include attacks in the United States.

"While there is not credible, specific information ... the use of tactics similar to those seen in recent terrorist attacks overseas include small-arm-equipped assault teams, large vehicle-borne explosive devices and suicide bombers," Ridge said.

He said the use of chemical, biological or radiological agents could "not be discounted."

ABC News reported that threatening emails intercepted by intelligence agencies were a major factor in the decision to raise the threat level. An FBI bulletin obtained by the network said two emails warned of possible attacks against Boston, New York, Washington and US beaches.

A FBI spokesman had no immediate comment on the report, which did not say who had sent the emails or to whom they were addressed.

Ridge said he had asked state governors to deploy additional forces, particularly during the Memorial Day holiday on May 26, a day of remembrance for those who have died in US service.

Officials said measures would not be as strict as in the last orange alert. For example states would not be asked to deploy the National Guard to help protect key infrastructure.

But security would be boosted at borders, airports and ports and there would be a more visible police presence in cities.

In New York on Tuesday, security was stepped up at bridges, tunnels, airports, power plants, landmarks and other sensitive locations. Armoured cars were seen in Times Square.

- NZPA, REUTERS