Inside help suspected in IMF, World Bank threat

Help from employees, contractors or visitors with access throughout the buildings, was suspected by officials at the two organizations, reports said.

Treasury Secretary John W. Snow visited both institutions on Monday to tell their leaders that they had the full support of the Bush administration as they figured out how to protect themselves against the terrorist threat. "It was a very gracious gesture," said James D. Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, who broke off his vacation in the Galapagos Islands and returned to Washington late on Sunday.

Mr. Wolfensohn held a town-hall-style meeting for the World Bank staff on Monday afternoon, when he said that a new era had begun and that heightened security procedures would be in effect at least through the inauguration of the next American president.

"We now know that the bank is on the awareness screen of Al Qaeda but we also know we must continue our work," he told the over-flowing crowd. "Nothing should remotely allow us to lose our stride."