The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) said next year’s Olympic Games may represent a “target for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups,“ therefore the people attending the event must keep their eyes open for possible threats.

“The alliance to permit the hosting of a safe and secure 2008 summer Olympic Games will need to embrace the public sector, the global law enforcement community, the private sector and - of particular importance - a vigilant public at home and abroad,” the organization’s Secretary General Ronald Noble said.

Noble spoke with Chinese officials in charge of the security on Monday in Beijing, outlining that the event draws hundreds of thousands of persons along with worldwide media attention, thus making it a potential target for extremists.

“The combination of these elements makes such a major global event a prime theoretical target for al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups,” Noble said in a statement published on Interpol’s website, www.interpol.int.

Since Beijing was appointed to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Lyon-based organization has strengthened ties with Chinese police officials in order to properly set up a security plan.

“China's early involvement of Interpol in the planning and preparation of security is a clear sign of their determination to ensure that these games pass as safely as possible,” Noble said.

He said a “major event support team” along with state-of-the-art equipment will be dispatched by the Interpol to Beijing before the Games kick off in August next year.

“In addition, for these 2008 summer Olympic Games, Interpol has designed its most ambitious passport and visa application screening process to identify stolen, lost and fraudulent travel documents as well as suspected terrorists and dangerous criminals,” the American law enforcement office said.

Nobel said the system will permit officers to quickly discover individuals present in the organization’s global criminal databases when they apply for Chinese visa.

“This will provide China with the most advanced early detection system of fraudulent travel documents and criminals currently available,” he added.

Approximately one million security forces, including anti-terrorist units are expected to maintain law and order during the major sporting event.