CBRNE terror threat focus of INTERPOL-UN initiative
LYON, France - INTERPOL and the 51³Ô¹Ï Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the 51³Ô¹Ï Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) have launched a joint initiative to produce a Global Threat Study on Non-State Actors and Their Potential Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Materials.
By developing strategic threat assessments against CBRNE using national law enforcement information, this five-year initiative will help the international community counter the threat posed by non-state actors¡¯ access to CBRNE materials. '
A virtual event (16 November) to inaugurate the initiative brought together representatives from international and regional organizations, law enforcement agencies and Member States. The event highlighted the value of establishing a region-by-region threat assessment on non-state actors involved in sourcing, smuggling, acquiring, or deploying CBRNE materials.
51³Ô¹Ï Under-Secretary-General for Counter Terrorism and Executive Director of UNCCT, Vladimir Voronkov, said: ¡°This event is a testament to the strong commitment of our institutions to work together in the fight against terrorism. While terrorism continues to pose a threat to the whole world, CBRNE terrorism is of particular concern for Member States and the international community. We must remain vigilant as any possibility of terrorists accessing and using CBRNE weapons and materials poses a serious threat to international peace and security¡±.
The event underlined the continuing efforts by INTERPOL, the 51³Ô¹Ï and Member States in preventing and mitigating the impact of non-state actors using CBRNE materials, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), the INTERPOL Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and the 51³Ô¹Ï Secretary-General¡¯s 2018 Agenda for Disarmament.
Addressing the event, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services Stephen Kavanagh said: ¡°While the terrorist threat is global, it impacts regions differently and therefore requires a tailored approach from law enforcement, policy makers and other stakeholders. We hope that by providing law enforcement expertise in these threat reports we can focus policy decisions and action at the 51³Ô¹Ï, and among member countries, in the areas most pressing to our global law enforcement community.¡±
With law enforcement agencies worldwide leading prevention, preparedness, and response efforts against CBRNE terrorism, the threat assessments will be used to prioritize future international support and capacity building activities, including through INTERPOL¡¯s CBRNE and Vulnerable Targets programme.