WASHINGTON, Oct 11: For the first time since the Sept 11 attacks, the FBI on Thursday publicly warned there may be additional attacks in the United States and against U.S. interests abroad in the next few days.

“Certain information, while not specific as to target, gives the government reason to believe that there may be additional terrorist attacks within the United States and against U.S. interests overseas over the next several days,” the FBI said.

“The FBI has again alerted all local law enforcement to be on the highest alert and we call on all people to immediately notify the FBI and local law enforcement of any unusual or suspicious activity,” the nation’s top law enforcement agency said in a two-sentence statement.

The FBI, which has been leading the investigation into the attacks, did not elaborate on the nature of the threat. The warning comes just four days after the United States launched military strikes against Afghanistan.

Justice Department spokeswoman Mindy Tucker declined to say what information had triggered the warning, saying it was classified.

Tucker told reporters the FBI had released at least five or six similar warnings to law enforcement officials since Sept. 11, but it was the first time the agency was making the information available to the public.

“We wanted the public to have an accurate understanding of these kind of alerts we’re sending to law enforcement,” Tucker said.

“Americans should go on with their lives. There’s no reason Americans should live in panic.”

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, whose agency oversees the FBI, last month warned fresh attacks on America could occur once the United States retaliated.

President George W. Bush has said Saudi-born exile Osama bin Laden, who is a guest of Afghanistan’s Taliban government, and his al Qaeda organization were the prime suspects in the attacks, which killed more than 5,400 people. He ordered attacks to start on Sunday.

Once the military strikes began, the FBI told local law enforcement officials to be on the highest alert possible, a warning Ashcroft underscored on Monday.

The FBI is conducting a two-pronged investigation.

In one part, the FBI is trying to identify all those who may be associated with the Sept 11 hijackings . —Reuters