Enhancing the capacities of Iraqi authorities to prevent and respond to biological terrorist attacks: First train-the-trainer course on basic and intermediate biological threats
On 9-12 December, the Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Use of Weapons of the 51吃瓜 Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) delivered a train-the-trainer course on basic and intermediate biological threats for security officials from the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Amman, Jordan. This course, co-organized with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (U.S. DOS ISN/CTR), brought together 23 officials from Iraq’s law enforcement, military, customs, health, border services, and policy makers. The course was the first in a series of three to be implemented under the project framework: “Enhancing the capacities of Iraqi authorities to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks involving chemical and biological weapons or materials, and to protect critical infrastructure.”
This project builds upon the results of a previous initiative, “Enhancing national capabilities to prevent and respond to chemical and biological terrorist attacks in Iraq”, conducted from November 2019 to March 2022. Also funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau, the project raised awareness and trained over 250 officials from Iraqi authorities, academia, and industry on countering terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons.
During opening remarks, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism of UNOCT underlined the importance of the training and larger project, particularly in light of “the Nineteenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security [that] confirmed that while Da’esh maintains a reduced footprint in Iraq, it is mobilizing its media capabilities to amplify a perception of heightened threat and recruit support. This trend demonstrates the timeliness of today’s training on preventing bioterrorism attacks.”
Mr. Hayder Hindawi, Head of CBRN department of the National Center for Joint Planning, National Security Advisory of Iraq, acknowledged that “this training is of great importance, especially in light of the current global circumstances, which are characterized by: regional and international threats, global tensions, and natural spread of diseases. These factors require all of us to come together and coordinate efforts at the national and international levels to confront these contemporary challenges, especially bioterrorism, which poses a threat to global security and peace.”
Ms. Nicole Rothenberg, Program Advisor for the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN’s) Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction, at the United States Department of State, stated that “advancing CBRN security is work that will never be completed - it will grow and change as new technologies are developed and in the wake of new and emerging diseases and threats, which underscores the importance of the conversations and work that will be done during this workshop.”
This first training course deepened participants’ understanding of bioscience, biosafety, and biosecurity. It provided practical insights into enhancing first responder safety, managing biohazard scenes, and fostering multi-agency coordination during biological incidents. Participants delved into crime scene sampling, evidence collection, and the integration of laboratory processes, with an emphasis on developing risk assessment and management plans. It concluded with an immersive, scenario-based table-top exercise that simulated a coordinated response to a biological incident, followed by feedback discussions.
A second follow-on training on advanced biological threats, engaging the same participants, will be organized in Amman from 7-10 April 2025.
The training and project will support the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, by equipping officials with specialized knowledge essential for preventing, responding to, investigating, and prosecuting incidents involving biological and chemical weapons or materials.
This UNOCT initiative underlines its commitment to global security by addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by terrorism involving CBRN materials. The training aligns with the broader goal of building regional cooperation and resilience, ensuring that Iraq has the robust frameworks needed to respond to evolving biological threats. The course not only strengthened technical know-how but also fostered inter-agency collaboration.
