Here in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has raised the security alert to its highest level for the first time.

• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff: “We believe that the arrests in Britain have significantly disrupted this major threat. But we cannot assume that the threat has been completely thwarted, or that we have fully identified and neutralized every member of this terror network. There is no indication of plotting within the United States. Nevertheless, as a precaution the government is taking immediate steps to increase security measures with respect to aviation. First of all, the US government has raised the security alert level, to the highest level, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom and bound for the United States.”