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CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Italian tourist aboard a flight from Sydney to Vienna caused an international security alert after he sent a joke text message from his cell phone to his wife claiming his plane had been hijacked by terrorists, the Australian government confirmed Sunday. The man, Antonio Casale, 35, sent the message to his wife from Kuala Lumpur during a refueling stop on a Lauda Air flight from Sydney last Sunday night, Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported. Transport Minister John Anderson's spokesman confirmed the newspaper report. Casale claimed terrorists were in control of the plane and were taking...

NEW YORK -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says he would discontinue the color-coded terror alerts issued by the Department of Homeland Security and find "some more thoughtful way of alerting America," according to an interview in Rolling Stone magazine. "I think Americans, sadly, laugh at it," Kerry said, referring to the alerts in an interview to be published Friday in Rolling Stone. "They don't know what to do." Kerry said he felt "a sense of bitter disappointment" by the ads run by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that questioned his conduct and the medals he received as a...

(IsraelNN.com) Authorities have apprehended a third terror suspect. As a result, the terror alert that has been in effect in Jerusalem since Wednesday afternoon has ended.

Why Bush has more to fear than fear itself By LAWRENCE MARTIN Thursday, August 5, 2004 - Page A15 The latest terrorism alert -- which, like the others, has thankfully produced nothing but fear itself -- was based primarily on at least three-year-old communications in Pakistan. Though there is unsettling material, nothing in these documents suggests that any attack was planned for this period of time. Yet the Bush administration went ahead with another dire terror alert anyway, spreading alarm through Gotham. The President then turned up the hysteria volume another notch. "We are a nation in danger," he said....

In light of todays terror alert in New York, New Jersey and Wash. D.C. I thought some might find this online guide useful.

HERNDON, Va. (Reuters) - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Friday warned top executives of major American sports organizations that al Qaeda may strike soon -- possibly at large sports events. In a seminar for commissioners and other top officials of professional and amateur sports organizations, Ridge and other Homeland Security officials asked for help in ensuring safety at and around major sporting events. He repeated a warning that the government fears al Qaeda might try to stage another large-scale attack in the United States, though he said he had no details on the time, place or method. "You...

Police are on a high alert level in the Sharon area Friday morning following specific hot terror alerts. Roadblocks were set up along road No. 5, between Oranit and Qassem junction, north-east of Petah Tikva. The security forces blocked off the entrance to and exit from Kafer Qassem. Roads leading to Rosh Ha'ayin have also been partly blocked off, and roadblocks were set up in the area. General closure until after Purim Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered a general closure imposed on Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip after 56 warnings were received by the security establishment of plans by...

A communication breakdown led French officials to allow a plane to take off for America even though U.S. authorities had asked that it be held during a high-threat terror alert. The incident, disclosed by Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson in an interview with Associated Press, has helped bring about changes in the way U.S. officials talk to foreign governments during terror threats. In December, the National Targeting Centre in Virginia had worked for 90 minutes to verify the backgrounds of everyone aboard the jet but still had questions about two or three passengers when it learned the plane had departed....

Police in Kiryat Shmona are reportedly chasing a suspicious man who fled a shopping mall after setting off a metal detector alarm. According to Yediot Ahronot, the man tried to enter the Nehamia mall in the northern city. He was stopped at the main entrance's metal detection system, and fled on foot. According to reports, the man tried to enter the mall at another entrance, and failed there too. Police describe the man as having dark hair, is tall, and sporting a goatee beard.

Dec. 31, 2003 Shalom 2003, Shalom 2004: Tel Aviv celebrates By HILARY LEILA KREIGERAs the countdown to 2004 drew closer, Tel Avivians intent on ringing in the New Year showed no signs of missing the celebration, despite police warnings of a massive terror attack in the area and boosted security throughout the country. "Today more than ever people really need a reason to party. I hope they use this one," said Mike's Place co-owner Gal Ganzman, while preparing to host an all-night party featuring plenty of music, booze and customers. Though the Tel Aviv branch of the popular bar was...

Code Orange: The Reason Why By Dr. Walid Phares FrontPageMagazine.com | December 22, 2003 As soon as Homeland Security officials declared the Orange alert level yesterday afternoon, many in the U.S. rushed to assess the "necessity" of such an elevated warning. Unfortunately, most considered the evaluation self-centered. One main sound bite ruled the airwaves: "Beware of crying wolf." The concern that repetitive calls for Orange alert may well weaken the whole system is a glaring consumer-driven fallacy. One of the strategic tools in the War on Terror is popular mobilization, which, combined with such an alert, can deter a terrorist...

<p>US and British intel, plus al-Qaeda deep operational "plants"</p> <p>COMMENT: Based on current intelligence, it appears that the attack on NYC will be weapons-grade anthrax dispersed to intentionally disrupt the city to a maximum degree. Las Vegas: it is stated specifically that a major cable network will be tipped off to cover this explosion. Casualties are expected to be enormous forcing people to flee from the attacked cities. D.C. is continually singled out as a recipient of a suitcase nuke (fission weapon), not a radiological nuke (dirty bomb). Another American city is being targeted though not specifically named. Based on previous intel, it appears that Los Angeles is the most likely candidate.</p>

NAIROBI, Kenya - The U.S. Embassy warned American citizens Tuesday of a potential terrorist attack on two hotels in downtown Nairobi and two bank buildings were evacuated due to a bomb threat. "The U.S. government recently received an anonymous warning detailing terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in downtown Nairobi ... the timing of the threat is within the next several days," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. Although the "information has not been corroborated," it was released in the interest of public safety," the statement said. United Nations security officials also warned employees from visiting the...

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's security services have been placed on a higher level of alert because of intelligence that al-Qaida may be planning a new attack, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday.Internal alerts for the police and military are not usually made public. The Home Office, which oversees the intelligence services, would not comment on the BBC report and said it never discussed alert levels unless there is a specific threat.``If there's a specific threat the government would not hesitate to issue an alert,'' a spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity.The BBC said the alert status had been raised...

Death Toll Climbs to 6 in Tzrifin Attack 19:43 Sep 09, '03 / 12 Elul 5763(IsraelNN.com) ZAKA is reporting the death toll in the Tzrifin base suicide bombing attack has risen to six. This number is yet unconfirmed by police officials. High Alert Continues Nationwide 19:00 Sep 09, '03 / 12 Elul 5763 (IsraelNN.com) Police and other security agencies remain on high alert with an emphasis being placed on Jerusalem and the Sharon region.

F-16 Jets Launched In East as Precaution Emergency Network Undergoes First TestBy Bradley Graham and John Mintz Washington Post Staff Writers Friday, August 15, 2003; Page A11In the first minutes after yesterday's power blackout, the Pentagon launched two Air Force F-16 fighter jets to patrol skies between New York and Washington, and put other military aircraft on alert at eastern U.S. bases, defense officials said.But federal and regional authorities quickly determined that the electrical shutdown was not caused by a terrorist act and did not reflect a national security threat, the officials said.The sudden paralyzing blow to a large section...

Al-Qaida false alarm Gordon Prarher Posted: June 7, 2003 According to a June 3 headline in the Washington Times, "CIA says al-Qaida ready to use nukes." That headline and the exclusive accompanying story sent shock waves across the country and around the world. You've probably been hiding in your basement fallout shelter ever since. The story by Times investigative reporter Bill Gertz is even more frightening than the headline. Gertz begins, "Al-Qaida terrorists and related groups are set to use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in deadly strikes, according to a new CIA report." Wow. It's not just al-Qaida we...

The National Terror Alert is going back to Yellow. Breaking news, could not find a link to anything about it, even at FEMA's site. As of 2:20 Eastern Time, they still have Orange posted.:

LONDON (Reuters) - European ministers warned that dormant Islamic terrorist cells could strike at any time, heightening worldwide alerts against a possibly resurgent al Qaeda after suicide bombings in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Both Saudi Arabia and Morocco announced the detention of suspected Islamic militants, and the Saudis said on Sunday they were looking seriously at al Qaeda links to last Monday's bombings in the capital Riyadh. Suicide attackers killed Westerners, including Americans, in Riyadh, and several Europeans in Morocco's Casablanca. Both Arab kingdoms have historically close ties with Washington. "There are dormant Islamic terrorism cells which could wake up...

Disaster drill begins today in South Seattle By Christine ClarridgeSeattle Times staff reporterMany of the patrol cars, firetrucks and ambulances South Seattle residents will see or hear today won't be responding to real emergency calls. They will be participants in one of the country's largest disaster drills ever. The drill, dubbed Topoff 2, for Top Officials, is designed to test the mettle of local and national emergency-response teams to the detonation of a "dirty bomb" in South Seattle. What you might seeIn South Seattle and Sodo areas: • The exercise will take place near the Tully's roasting plant (the...