China fears domestic threat to Olympics: Interpol

By Mark Trevelyan, Security Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - China is more concerned about domestic than international terrorism and is pouring unprecedented resources into ensuring the security of the Beijing Olympics, the head of Interpol said on Thursday.

Ronald Noble said foreign militants would find it very difficult to operate in China but this did not necessarily mean the risk of a terrorist attack was lower than at the two previous Summer Games, in Sydney and Athens.

"No, I can say that the Chinese authorities have said they are more worried about a terrorist threat coming from inside than from outside, or inspired by inside-related activities than outside-related activities," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Noble said pro-Tibet protests that disrupted the international Olympic torch relay this year had increased concern that "people might want to use the Olympics in order to make a statement against China."

"But the Chinese authorities have devoted more resources to making sure these are safe Olympics than any other country has ever before, and China is a very, very difficult country for a foreigner to operate in without him, or her, or that group being detected," Noble said.

"And so for that reason, from Interpol's perspective, I can say with all honesty there isn't anything else that I believe China should be doing or could be doing to ensure that there would be a safe and secure Olympics."

Noble said in a speech in Beijing in April there was a "real possibility" the Olympics would be targeted by terrorists.

In the interview, he said this was not prompted by any specific intelligence.