Interpol chief meets Chidambaram

New Delhi: Interpol chief Ronald K Noble on Saturday met Home Minister P Chidambaram and offered all possible international assistance in probing the Mumbai terror strikes.

“India has long been a strong partner of Interpol, it is only appropriate that Interpol stand shoulder to shoulder with India as it investigates the Mumbai terrorist attacks,” Noble said in a statement. Chidambaram and the Interpol chief held an hour-long meeting.

Images: The men who attacked Mumbai

Sources said Noble offered help in unravelling details of the terrorists killed or captured in Mumbai - including their names, fingerprints, DNA profiles and photographs - by comparing them with Interpol's global databases and disseminate the information with its member countries.

“Noble discussed possible international assistance in the investigation and terrorism prevention support following the Mumbai terror attacks. He expressed Interpol's solidarity with the Indian government,” sources in the home ministry told IANS.

“The Interpol chief also offered to help in unveiling the identity of those behind the Mumbai terror mayhem. He said Interpol will help in issuing Black Corner Notices (issued for the identification of dead people) and Blue Notices (to obtain additional information) of the terrorists gunned down in Mumbai,” the sources added.

These notices will allow Indian authorities to seek formal and structured assistance from Interpol member countries.

Pakistan foreign minister talks of war

The Interpol delegation also offered its state-of-the-art technology to enable immigration officials carry out direct screening of passports and identity documents on a real-time basis against Interpol's global database of more than 16 million stolen and lost travel documents on a regular basis.

This border-control system would permit Indian law enforcement authorities to instantly identify anyone attempting to fraudulently enter the country by air, land or sea. If the offer is accepted, India would join 41 other countries worldwide with this capability.

Noble and his team would now be visiting Pakistan to discuss the Mumbai issue with officials in Islamabad and with the country's law enforcement agencies. Interpol is the world's largest international police organisation, with 187 member countries.

Mumbai terror attack special

Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police cooperation, and supports and assists all organisations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat crime. On Friday, Noble visited Interpol's National Central Bureau located in the headquarters of India's premier crime detection agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Later he and another official met CBI Director Ashwani Kumar. The CBI is the nodal agency in India for coordination with Interpol. The Mumbai terror attacks claimed the lives of around 170 people, including 26 foreigners.

More India news | World news