Identifying biological threats to strengthen response capability

BUDAPEST, Hungary – The European Police College (CEPOL) and INTERPOL organized jointly a workshop aimed at identifying risks linked to bioterrorism threats in order to strengthen response capability.

The workshop was opened by Dr. Ferenc Bánfi, Director of CEPOL, Pol. Maj. Dr Tibor Takács, Deputy High Commissioner of the Hungarian Police, and Dr. Rebecca Hoile, Coordinator at INTERPOL Bioterrorism Prevention Unit.

The rapidly changing digital environment is making biological weapons more readily accessible. Hence, the use of the ‘darknet’ by organised crime networks and terrorists was a focal point of the workshop.

The four-day (5 – 8 May) workshop brought together 46 law enforcement officers from six countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Ukraine). It aimed at providing participants with an insight into global terrorism trends and threats and at addressing biosecurity challenges for law enforcement.

“CEPOL is delighted to have collaborated with INTERPOL on this workshop. Bioterrorism is a growing threat. Nowadays, according to a FBI study, terrorists are more likely to strike with a biological agent than a nuclear weapon. Hence, this threat needs to be better understood to prevent attacks from occurring” , declared Dr Ferenc Bánfi, CEPOL Director.