LYONS, France, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Interpol issued what officials called an "unprecedented global alert" Tuesday for 85 suspected terrorists wanted by Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government says that the men were allegedly planning attacks in their country or are believed to have ties to al-Qaida, ABC News reported.
"Never before has Interpol been asked to alert the world about so many dangerous fugitives at one time," Interpol Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble in a statement. "We know that we are approaching the 16th anniversary of the first World Trade Center bombing on Feb. 26, 200,9 and therefore must be especially vigilant of fugitive al-Qaida terrorists."
The International Criminal Police Organization, with headquarters in Lyons, France, issued an "orange alert," which can be made public.
Brad Garrett, a former FBI agent and now an ABC News consultant, said that the alert suggests that Saudi Arabia wants to show it is taking action against terrorism and is also concerned about the level of political unrest within its own borders.
