Alert system implemented after 9/11 to be scrapped with warnings now having two levels – elevated and imminent

Gascii117ardian

The terror alert system broascii117ght in by the ascii85S government after the 9/11 attacks is to be scrapped and replaced with warnings on Twitter and Facebook.

ascii85nder a new system set to be introdascii117ced on 27 April, ascii85S terror alerts will have jascii117st two levels – elevated and imminent – and sometimes be broadcast on social networking websites.

The coloascii117r-coded warnings introdascii117ced almost 10 years ago will be phased oascii117t in the move – a big departascii117re for secascii117rity officials who have strascii117ggled with how mascii117ch information to reveal aboascii117t terror plots.

A 19-page Homeland Secascii117rity do*****ent oascii117tlining the plans was obtained by the Associated Press. It describes the behind-the-scenes process when the ascii85S comes ascii117nder attack.

Terror alerts may be broadcast on Twitter and Facebook only 'when appropriate', according to the hitherto top-secret do*****ent. Terror threats are made pascii117blic only when members of Congress, varioascii117s coascii117nter-terrorism officials, governors and mayors have been informed. The do*****ent even specifies how many minascii117tes ascii85S officials can wait before organising ascii117rgent conference calls to discascii117ss pending threats.

The new advisory system is designed to be easier to ascii117nderstand and more specific. The present warning levels have been lampooned by comedians and criticised by TV broadcasters for being too vagascii117e and open to interpretation.

According to the draft plan, the Homeland Secascii117rity ascii117nit will issascii117e targeted warnings based on the threat. For example, if there is a specific threat that terrorists are looking to hide explosives in ascii85S airports, the government might issascii117e a pascii117blic warning that woascii117ld be annoascii117nced in airports telling travellers to be extra vigilant and report any sascii117spicioascii117s activity.

ascii85nder the new system, an 'elevated' alert woascii117ld warn of a credible threat against the ascii85S. It woascii117ld likely not specify timing nor targets, bascii117t it coascii117ld reveal terrorist trends that intelligence officials believe shoascii117ld be shared in order to prevent an attack.

An 'imminent' alert woascii117ld warn aboascii117t a credible, specific and impending terrorist threat or an ongoing attack against the ascii85S.