Police Increase Alertness Level
Propaganda Video Raises Concern, but No Specific Threat Seen

By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 3, 2007

The U.S. Capitol Police have stepped up their vigilance recently because of increased concern about a terrorist attack on the United States, but officials said yesterday there is no specific information pointing to a threat to Congress.

"There's a lot of different chatter out there. The problem everybody has is, what's real and what isn't," said Terrance W. Gainer, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, who helps oversee the Capitol Police.

Fresh concerns had been raised, Gainer said, by an alleged al-Qaeda propaganda ad labeled "Wait for the Big Surprise" showing a doctored picture of President Bush and Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, in front of a White House in flames.

"We just say, okay, do we need to resharpen our swords? That's what we're doing," Gainer said. He declined to provide specifics but said officers were not working overtime or extra shifts.

Roll Call reported yesterday afternoon that Capitol Police had beefed up their presence in response to intelligence indicating a greater possibility of an al-Qaeda attack on the Capitol between now and Sept. 11.

The Roll Call article cited an unidentified Capitol Police source and quoted Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, as saying that "the leaders of the committees of jurisdiction have been briefed on threats to the Capitol."

Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Administration Committee, which oversees the Capitol Police, told The Washington Post that he had received no briefings of any threats beyond a "generic" BlackBerry message from the House sergeant-at-arms urging legislators to remain vigilant.

Officials with major federal law-enforcement agencies said they had no indication of any impending plan to attack the Capitol.

"There continues to be no credible or specific information suggesting an imminent threat to the homeland at this time . . . that would include the Capitol," said Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

Federal officials have expressed heightened worry recently about a possible terrorist attack while stressing that they have no concrete information about one.

Knocke noted the recent history of spring and summer attacks in Europe, including the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, London transit attacks in July 2005 and this June's failed car bombing attempts in London and Glasgow, Scotland. He also cited increased terrorist activity overseas, including western Pakistan, "roughly a dozen messages" by al-Qaeda leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the recent propaganda video.

In combination, the developments give DHS officials "reason to believe that we are in a period of increased risk," Knocke said. "That does not mean there is a credible and specific threat."

The FBI has deemed the Web page showing the supposed al-Qaeda video to be of dubious credibility.

"We know al-Qaeda is intent on going after the symbols of our government, but we can't point to a specific threat," said a U.S. official familiar with intelligence reports.

Capitol Police Chief Phillip D. Morse did not respond to a request for an interview. His spokeswoman, Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, said the Capitol Police "always remain vigilant." She declined to discuss any security changes, saying such information was "for official use only."

The e-mail message that was sent to House members and staff last Friday encouraged them "to maintain increased vigilance" and to display their badges while in congressional buildings, according to a copy obtained by The Post.

"Based on public reports it is widely known that the Capitol complex remains a target of interest for terrorist organizations," said the message from the House sergeant-at-arms, Wilson Livingood.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said Livingood told her yesterday evening that "there is no specific threat to the Capitol."

Congress is scheduled to be away for most of August on summer break.

Staff writers Dan Eggen, Spencer S. Hsu, Allison Klein and Joby Warrick contributed to this report.