US warns of al Qaeda attack

The United States fears al Qaeda is plotting a big attack in that country but has no plans to raise the terror threat level and no details on when, where or how it might occur, officials said yesterday.

They said an attack could coincide with a number of upcoming high-profile events in the United States, starting with the Memorial Day holiday this weekend and continuing through the November presidential election.

"They want to do something spectacular," one federal law enforcement official said referring to al Qaeda. Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller called a 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) news conference to discuss the threat and seek the public's help.

The officials said the United States has obtained intelligence deemed credible, but not specific, on place, time or method of an attack. They said it could involve a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon.

In New York, the police department said it remained on a heightened state of alert but had not been warned of a possible attack against the city.

"Nor have we been advised that terrorists are known to be in the United States actively plotting such an attack," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a statement.

The officials said the United States had intelligence indicating that individuals or groups are in the United States actively involved in planning an attack. However, US law enforcement authorities have been unable to identify them.