WASHINGTON, Aug 3: US Attorney-General John Ashcroft has said that the threat of a terrorist attack conveyed through an Al Qaeda tape earlier on Sunday was “very real”.

In an interview to FOX News Mr Ashcroft said: “I believe that the potential for us to be hit again is ‘very, very real’.

“The kinds of information we’re sharing with the American people, signal that we believe that there is such a potential,” he added.