Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — The international police agency has warned of Al Qaida attacks.

Interpol linked the alert to the escape of hundreds of Al Qaida members from prison in July and said they could be used for attacks on Western and other facilities.
In a statement, Interpol cited prison escapes in nine countries, including Iraq, Libya and Pakistan.

“With suspected Al Qaida involvement in several of the breakouts which led to the escape of hundreds of terrorists and other criminals, the Interpol alert requests the organization’s 190 member countries’ assistance in order to determine whether any of these recent events are coordinated or linked,” Interpol said.

In a statement on Aug. 3, Interpol urged members to “closely follow and swiftly process any information linked to these events and the escaped
prisoners.” Interpol also directed members to relay information of the whereabouts of the escaped prisoners.

Interpol said August could mark an Al Qaida offensive. The month was the anniversary of Al Qaida attacks in India, Indonesia and Russia as well as the 15th anniversary of the bombings of the U.S. embassy in Kenya and Tanzania.

“Staff at Interpol’s 24-hour Command and Coordination Centre and other
specialized units are also prioritizing all information and intelligence in
relation to the breakouts or terrorist plots in order to immediately inform
relevant member countries of any updates,” the statement said.

The Interpol alerted came a day after the United States warned of an
imminent Al Qaida strike. The State Department, followed by NATO allies,
closed embassies in 22 countries, almost of them in the Middle East.

“This is the most serious threat that I’ve seen in the last several
years,” Sen. Saxy Chambliss, the ranking Republican on the Senate Select
Intelligence Committee, said.

  Interpol ties prison escapes to threat of August attacks by Al Qaida, NATO, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, U.S. State Department