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Threat level lowered for some financial buildings

WASHINGTON - The Homeland Security Department lowered the terrorism threat level from orange to yellow Wednesday for financial-service buildings in three East Coast cities, saying the institutions that al-Qaida had scoped out for possible attack have strengthened their security.

"This action today brings the entire nation to the elevated risk level, or yellow," Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy said. Nevertheless, he added, the change in the threat advisory "certainly has no implications that we're less concerned about threats to the financial sector or the homeland by al-Qaida or anyone else."

The department had raised the threat level Aug. 1 for areas around certain buildings in Washington, Newark, N.J., and New York after uncovering evidence that al-Qaida had been studying the International Monetary Fund and World Bank buildings in Washington, Prudential Financial Inc.'s Newark headquarters and Citigroup Inc.'s headquarters and the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan as possible targets.

New York City will maintain its own orange-alert level, which effectively has been in place ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Loy said the Homeland Security Department's decision to lower the risk rating for certain buildings in the city wouldn't affect New York's own terrorism-alert status.

CHICAGO - A federal judge found two U.S.-based Islamic charities and an alleged fundraiser for the Palestinian militant group Hamas liable for damages Wednesday in the 1996 shooting death of an American teenager in Israel.

Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys said that the defendants clearly knew the charitable funds they sent to Palestinian groups on the West Bank were destined for Hamas and that the group was involved in terrorism.

Stephen J. Landes, an attorney for the parents of the slain David Boim, said it was the first time a court had held U.S.-based organizations liable for terrorism abroad.

Keys ordered a Dec. 1 jury trial to decide how much must be paid by Texas-based Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, the Islamic Association for Palestine and alleged Hamas fundraiser Mohammed Salah of Chicago.

"This is a huge win for victims of terrorism," Landes said. "It shows the law works."

Boim's parents are seeking $600-million, though attorneys say there's little chance of collecting that amount.

WASHINGTON - A videotape of a purported al-Qaida member calling himself "Azzam the American" and threatening attacks on the United States may be a terror suspect from California wanted by the FBI, U.S. officials say.

FBI director Robert Mueller announced in May that the bureau was looking for Adam Yahiye Gadahn, 26. Investigators said Gadahn, who grew up on a farm in Riverside County, Calif., and converted to Islam as a teen, moved to Pakistan, attended al-Qaida training camps and was an al-Qaida translator.

Some counterterror officials believe Gadahn may be the person on a video given to ABC News last month in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The speaker praised the Sept. 11 attacks, called Osama bin Laden and his deputy his leaders, and said a new wave of attacks could come at any moment.

Nancy Pearlman, who is Gadahn's aunt and has been the family spokeswoman, said they have not determined if he is the shrouded man on the videotape.

On its Web site, the FBI said it is "urgently seeking information" on the identity of "Azzam the American" or "Azzam Al-Amriki." The site says he may be outside the United States.