The United States faces a "very serious threat" of additional terrorist attacks which could escalate if the country launches retaliatory strikes for the September 11 attacks, US Attorney General John Ashcroft said Sunday.
Speaking to CBS television, Ashcroft said: "We believe that there is the likelihood of additional terrorist activity and it's our job to do whatever we can to disrupt it."
Other attacks may have been planned for September 11, and "we believe that there are others that may be in the country who would have plans, pre-positionned, pre-planned to do things," he said.
"There is a very serious threat of additional problems now and frankly as the US responds, that threat may escalate."
Aschroft oversees the FBI investigation into the September attacks, in which four passenger aircraft were hijacked and three of them were slammed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing more than 6,000 people. The fourth airplane smashed into the ground in Pennsylvania.
"It's clear to me that this conspiracy against the US which manifested itself in the attacks of September 11 is international and well-financed," he said.
"I don't have any reason to believe that the entirety of those involved perished in the situation."
US authorities were working to preempt other possible attack plans, and to that end were seeking greater powers to hold foreigners who have violated US immigration law and were suspected of involvement with "terrorists", he said.
But, "you can never know what you prevent," he said -- WASHINGTON (AFP)
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