Sources: Americans evacuated from Yemen after terrorist threat

Terrorist threat called specific and credible

By Kelli Arena
CNN Justice Correspondent
and Pam Benson
National Security Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior government sources told CNN on Thursday that as a result of a specific and credible terrorist threat against Americans in Yemen, some government employees have been evacuated.

The sources would not say who the employees are or how many, but one source did say they did not include FBI personnel in the area.

The sources would not elaborate on the nature of the threat, but one official said it could have grave consequences.

At his regularly scheduled briefing, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said of terrorist threats: "I do not have anything specific to Yemen."

GALLERIES Images from Wednesday's memorial services USS Cole wounded return home     INTERACTIVE See a 3-dimensional image of the USS Cole Get the plugin Leaders' reactions to the attack on the USS Cole Animation of a transport ship conducting a recovery procedure at sea     MESSAGE BOARD Security threats

Boucher said, however, that in light of the verdicts in the embassy bombing trial in New York, "we felt that there were indeed concerns ... our posts in the region, and this region including Yemen, have been on a high state of alert for a long time since the Africa bombings,and in connection with recent events we have asked posts to look very closely at their security procedures."

Boucher did say that the investigation into who bombed the USS Cole in Aden was moving from that port city to the Yemeni capital Sanaa. But Boucher said that "the movement of this office was part of the investigation process, and has been considered for some time."

Boucher continued: "We think they can continue their work there, with Yemeni officials. ... we're doing this on consultation with our Yemeni partners, and we think this step can help improve our cooperation with them." He also said the bombing investigation "is not over."

At the Pentagon, spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said the Department of Defense would provide a C-130 cargo transport plane to fly 50 to 55 Justice, FBI, and State Department personnel along with some members of their Marine security team from Aden to Sanaa.

Quigley would not discuss the threats.

The Yemen threats come as the U.S. military elevated the terrorist threat level in Bahrain last weekend, putting American troops there on a higher state of alert in response to "a specific threat" against potential U.S. targets there.