PARIS -- Al-Qaeda militants seem to be preparing simultaneous attacks in several countries including the United States, the head of the international police authority Interpol said in an interview published yesterday.

Without saying an attack was imminent, Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble told the Paris daily Le Figaro that recent intelligence suggested the terrorist network was gearing up to strike. He also noted his belief that Osama bin Laden remains alive, even though nobody has been able to track him down.

"Something worrying is going on," he said. "All intelligence experts are agreed that al-Qaeda is preparing a major terrorist operation, likely simultaneous attacks that would not target the United States alone. The field of battle now stretches to all countries and mobilizes several terrorist groups."

Mr. Noble, the first American to head the France-based agency, said that despite some successes in cracking down on militant groups, particularly in Europe, the risk of attacks is as real as ever.

"I would say that the risk today is at least as important as before Sept. 11. Sleeping cells remain in place, unknown to the police, but ready to act from one day to another," he said.

Mr. Noble is the latest in a number of security experts to have said they think Mr. bin Laden, who is blamed for the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, escaped U.S. bombing of his former hideout in Afghanistan last year.

"Osama bin Laden is alive," he said. He added that Mr. bin Laden's funding likely remains intact.

"Osama bin Laden is a multimillionaire. He was hugely rich before Sept. 11 and he still is today," he said, estimating the Saudi fugitive's fortune at between $280- and $300-million (U.S.), a large part of which was held in cash.