Tokyo — Japan raised its terror alert to its highest level on Friday, mobilizing heavily armed police around airports, nuclear plants and government offices to guard against a possible attack, an official said.
It the was first time the government went on such a heightened alert since the U.S.-led military attack on Iraq in March, 2003.
A National Police Agency official refused to discuss whether the government had new information about a possible terror strike.
The official said riot police armed with automatic rifles would guard Tokyo's Narita International Airport and one at Kansai, as well as nuclear power and reprocessing facilities, but he would not disclose how many officers were added.
Larger police forces were being mobilized and additional checkpoints set up around the prime minister's residence, U.S. embassy, military facilities and national and local assembly buildings, he said. Security was also raised at ports, railway stations and shopping malls.
