New York ? The FBI warned city officials Tuesday that it had received uncorroborated information that terrorists had made threats against the city, police said.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly characterized the information as “general threats.” A law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said city landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty were potential targets.

Early morning light reflects off the Statue of Liberty with a view of downtown New York in the background in this March 11 file photo taken in Jersey City, N.J. The FBI warned officials in New York Tuesday about uncorroborated information that landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, might be targets of terrorists, a law enforcement official said.

The warning came a day before the start of Fleet Week, an annual maritime celebration expected to draw 6,000 naval personnel.

Kelly said the department had “received information from the FBI about general threats to New York City. We are taking all necessary precautions and are communicating with the appropriate law enforcement agencies on both the state and federal levels.”

The information was based on interviews with detainees and was not independently confirmed, the law enforcement official said. It was passed on to the FBI’s joint terrorism task force in New York.

Security was increased around monuments and landmarks after the warning was relayed to New York, the official said. Kelly would not confirm any details, but heightened security was visibly in place at City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge on Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, Kelly said the NYPD was dealing very closely with federal authorities and said the department was prepared for “any eventuality.”

The city is preparing for Fleet Week 2002, an annual gathering that this year boasts the largest number of U.S. Naval vessels ever sent to New York City by an Atlantic Fleet commander. Sailors, marines and Coast Guard personnel will be aboard 22 ships, including six warships. The public is invited aboard ships participating in the festival.

Gov. George Pataki urged people to visit New York City and its landmarks despite the threats.

“We cannot allow threats to take away our freedom or our confidence,” Pataki said. “There are going to be threats for the foreseeable future.”

Pataki said the state has received all types of threats over the past eight months, but state and city officials have taken security steps. He said the threats were aimed at “dividing us and frightening us and taking away our freedom by fear.”

Kelly said he felt the department was “doing the best that we reasonably can do to prevent another incident and to respond if, God forbid, there is one.”

Security zones in place

Security zones are in place, forbidding vessels from operating within 150 yards of the United Nations, Ellis Island or Liberty Island. Also, no vessels can operate within 25 yards of bridge piers, abutments, tunnel ventilators or waterfront facilities.

At the Brooklyn Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, police officers checked vehicles at both the Brooklyn and Manhattan entrances of the bridge, though the bridge remained open to cars and pedestrians. Around City Hall, there was also a heightened police presence.

Additional Fleet Week restrictions were announced Monday. There are minimum-speed, no-wake “protection zones” that extend 500 yards from all U.S. naval vessels at all times.

Non-military vessels are not allowed to enter within 100 yards of any U.S. naval vessel unless authorized by an official patrol.

On Tuesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he didn’t see any reason why people shouldn’t enjoy Fleet Week and other activities over the weekend.

“The more people that are out the safer this city will be, and we are used to hosting big events. Fleet Week is just another one,” he said. “There area always threats unfortunately, but fortunately, most are hoaxes.”

Nearly every major tourist attraction, including all the big museums, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, were closed following the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island both national parks were closed to visitors for 100 days after the terror attacks. The statue itself remains closed.

Several other National Park Service sites in the city were closed in the wake of the terrorist attacks, either because they were close to the World Trade Center attack or because they were used for staging, like Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island. All have reopened.

Associated Press Reporter Ted Bridis contributed to this story.