Conference addresses chemical terrorism

INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters served as the backdrop for the recent Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats conference, which was designed to address chemical terrorism and related factors.

“This Congress comes at a pivotal time in the international security climate,” Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL secretary general, said. “We are seeing an increase in chemical weapon usage by non-state actors both in and outside theatres of conflict. We are also seeing a steady increase in the diversion or legitimate procurement of chemical precursors used to deploy explosive devices which harm law enforcement, military, and civilian populations worldwide.”

Officials said the three-day session, organized by INTERPOL, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, in coordination with the G7 Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, explored specialized case studies highlighting emerging trends, identification of lessons learned and best practices relating to chemical incident attribution and response and evolving technologies and tactics.

“Whether we are from law enforcement, the military, government or industry, we all have a role to play in preventing and responding to the persistent and emerging threats in relation to chemical security,” Stock said.

The Congress provided a significant opportunity to close the coordination gap between law enforcement and industry to improve security throughout the lifecycle of chemicals of concern and develop an overarching chemical security culture.