People get terrorism training in SAsia; US vexed

Washington, July 2: US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said "Washington is increasingly concerned about people with European citizenship going to South Asia to get terrorism training, and then returning to carry out attacks in Europe or the United States".

In an appearance on the CNN Sunday talk-show, he said, there were a 'significant number' of people within the United States who have suspected links to terrorism.

''I am not saying those are linked to al Qaeda, but they certainly indicate the possibility of people becoming radicalised and deciding they want to carry out attacks on their own. So, this is not, by no means, a European problem, but a problem here as well,'' Mr Chertoff said.

Meanwhile, the United States is increasing transportation security after a car bombing and other attempted terror attacks in Britain in recent days.

Mr Chertoff told ABC's This Week programme that there was no indication of a linkage between the events in Britain last week and any specific attacks on the United States. ''We do not have, at this point, specific, credible intelligence that there is an attack, a particular attack, focused on this country,'' he said.

President Bush said yesterday that he appreciated the new British government's 'strong response' to terrorist threats in London and Scotland.

It also prompted the United States to tighten airport security and add air marshals to overseas flights.

UNI