U.S. Warns of High Risk of Qaeda Attack
Bush administration says there is high risk of terrorist attacks against financial institutions in New York City and Washington areas; claims it received alarming information that operatives of Al Qaeda conducted detailed reconnaissance missions at certain sites; intelligence officials say information gathered and analyzed since July 30 indicates Al Qaeda has moved ahead with plans to use car bombs or other modes of attack against prominent financial institutions it has been studying before and since 9/11 attacks, including New York Stock Exchange and Citigroup buildings in Manhattan, Prudential Financial in Newark, and International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, and that attack might be in 'near term'; officials involved with investigation in NJ say suspects were found with blueprints of Prudential site and may have conducted 'test run' for attack in recent days; latest terrorist warnings are more dire than in past because threat information is highly unusual in its specificity; for first time, Dept of Homeland Security raises threat level to code orange, or 'high risk,' for financial sector in NYC, northern NJ and Washington; stepped-up security is expected in designated areas; photos, maps and other information about buildings mentioned as possible targets of attack (M)
