A global security alert detailing the features and components of improvised explosive devices discovered in Dubai and England in transit from Yemen to the US has been circulated by INTERPOL to all 188 member countries to assist law enforcement detect future similarly disguised packages.
A public version is also being made available by the world’s policing organisation to encourage greater vigilance.
The INTERPOL Orange Notice includes photographs and technical details of the devices which had been disguised inside computer printer cartridges as well as providing internal and external indicators such as verification of labeling, the package source, comparison of weight to listed contents and unusual odours or markings.
"The information contained in this Orange Notice will allow police services and other law enforcement agencies to take all appropriate measures to identify potentially lethal devices, and we particularly thank the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi and the Dubai Police for their close co-operation in this regard," said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble, speaking ahead of the INTERPOL General Assembly which opens in Qatar on Monday 8 November. The annual gathering brings together chiefs of police and senior law enforcement officials from around the globe to discuss a range of security and policing issues.
"Given that these devices were hidden inside what appeared to be normal packages, an unrestricted version of the Orange Notice has also been published by INTERPOL. We have seen on many occasions that vigilance by members of the public can be crucial in alerting law enforcement to potential threats, as evidenced by the arrest of the Times Square bomb suspect in May this year in New York," added Mr Noble.
"What is clear is that vigilance and information sharing are essential, and as the world’s largest police organization, it is our primary mission to ensure that the information needed to help protect citizens and secure borders is where it needs to be.
"The decision to share information via INTERPOL means that each of our 188 member countries can benefit from the thorough investigations being carried out by all of the affected countries, which may prove vital in assisting global law enforcement prevent future attacks," concluded the INTERPOL chief.
Issued by the Command and Co-ordination Centre at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, each member country has also been requested to circulate the Orange Notice to customs and other agencies involved in border security.
Created in 2004, the INTERPOL Orange Notice is used to warn police, public entities and other international organizations of potential threats related to disguised weapons, explosives and other dangerous materials.
