FBI ISSUES TERRORIST WARNING FOR L.A., SOUTHWEST.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The FBI issued a warning Thursday for Los Angeles and the Southwest about possible terrorist attacks, but local officials said the threat was vague so they were taking no specific action.

``We did receive information about a possible threat and are looking for additional information,'' a Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said.

``We have not activated the emergency operation center or gone on tactical alert because there is no specific threat.''

The FBI warning was directed to officials in Los Angeles, as well as California and New Mexico, about a possible terrorist attack, said Laura Eimiller of the FBI's Los Angeles office.

The warning had no specifics and wasn't meant for public consumption, but rather for other law enforcement agencies, she said.

``It's basically law-enforcement sensitive,'' she said.

The warning did not change the terrorist threat level, which remains at yellow, or elevated.

``It's basically indicating intelligence reporting that al-Qaida elements are planning attacks. It has no date or time or location,'' Eimiller said.

She said the threat was ``based on analysis of documents from overseas, interviews with detainees overseas possibly, and general reporting from the CIA and military intelligence. Through an abundance of caution we released this information.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com