BBC News US & Canada 9 February 2011 Last updated at 16:41 GMT
Janet Napolitano: US terror threat highest since 9/11 Janet Napolitano speaking in front of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Ms Napolitano warned that the US faced new threats of terrorism by individuals already inside the country The threat of terrorism against the US homeland is in some aspects "at its most heightened state" since the 9/11 attacks, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has said. "The terrorist threat facing our country has evolved significantly," she told members of Congress. The US faced new threats by groups already inside the country, inspired by al-Qaeda, she said. Ms Napolitano warned that attacks could be carried out with little warning. Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked individuals have attempted a number of recent attacks against the US, including a Nigerian who tried to blow up an aircraft with explosives hidden in his underwear, and a man who plotted to attack the New York subway. 'No guarantee' State and local law enforcement officials are increasingly needed to combat terror, and the federal government must focus on supporting their efforts to secure communities, Ms Napolitano said in testimony to the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. There is an increased reliance by foreign militant groups on recruiting individuals from the US, she added. "As I have said before, we cannot guarantee that there will never be another terrorist attack, and we cannot seal our country under a glass dome," she said. "However, we continue to do everything we can to reduce the risk of terrorism in our nation." More than 60 US citizens have been charged or convicted of terrorist acts or related crimes since 2009. ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
