CLEVELAND - Americans should celebrate the Fourth of July but be vigilant for possible attacks, the White House said yesterday as the country prepared for one of its biggest holidays.
Spokesman Ari Fleischer said he did not know if the colour-coded alert system, introduced after the September 11 attacks, would be raised from yellow (elevated) to orange (high) after a variety of intelligence reports suggested a greater risk of attack over the next few days.
"The Administration every day takes a look at the code and sees if there's any need to change it," Fleischer said.
"Large gatherings of the American people do present security issues that the American people are very familiar with."
In Washington, a senior Administration official said there were no plans to change the alert level but would not rule it out.
Americans gather by the hundreds of thousands on the Fourth of July for fireworks displays and barbecues, filling parks around the country.
A Newsweek poll at the weekend said 75 per cent of Americans would not avoid big cities on the day, even though 57 per cent felt a terrorist attack against major cities or landmarks was likely over the holiday.
"As Americans gather for July 4, it will be a time of both celebration and vigilance," Fleischer said. Presaident George W. Bush planned to travel to Ripley, West Virginia, to mark Independence Day with a tribute to America's military veterans.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Administration and law enforcement officials would be assessing intelligence information about possible attacks.
The FBI has issued a warning to state and local law enforcement agencies to be on alert for July 4.
However, the agency has chosen not to make its warning public, since it was unspecific and the FBI feared Americans might be suffering from "threat fatigue".
Washington Mayor Anthony Williams said security would be tight.
He urged people to head to the National Mall park early, to allow extra time for searches of bags, backpacks and coolers.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told New Yorkers to "stick it to the terrorists" by celebrating Independence Day. He said the city would mount a huge security operation.
Boats, helicopters, heavily armed anti-terrorism units and special FBI, police and fire units would be deployed for the fireworks show, the first in New York since September 11.
"The overriding message we have is to relax and let our law enforcement authorities do the worrying for you," Bloomberg said.
- REUTERS
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White House urges vigilance on July 4
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