WASHINGTON, April 16: The US government on Wednesday lowered the national terrorist attack alert from “high” to “elevated,” but cautioned that the country remains, “at risk.”

The Department of Homeland Security had raised the alert to the second highest level on March 17, before the start of the Iraq war on March 20, because of fears the war would spark stateside reprisal attacks.

“Following a review of intelligence and an assessment of threats by the intelligence community, the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Homeland Security Council, has made the decision to lower the threat advisory level,” said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

“While we continue to be at risk to the threat of terrorism at an elevated level, extensive protective measures remain in place throughout our nation,” he said.

“As Secretary Rumsfeld has noted, hostilities from Operation Iraqi Freedom still continue,” said Ridge, using the code name for the war in Iraq.

Two days before the war in Iraq began on March 20, Washington raised the terror alert level to orange, citing the threat of reprisals by Iraqi agents on US soil.—AFP