Europol conference in Portugal on improvised explosive devices and radiological materials

CEPOL and Europol, supported by the Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) organised a conference and training session attended by 75 CBRN and/or explosives experts of the European Explosive Ordnance Disposal Network (EEODN), which took place from 16th to 19th of October 2018, at the School of Guard, at Queluz, Portugal.

Officers from 26 EU Member States plus Norway and the United States, together with experts from specialised agencies such as the EU DG Migration and Home Affairs, the Joint Research Centre – Geel, the NATO – C-IED CoE Madrid - Spain, the NATO EOD CoE Trencin – Slovakia, INTERPOL, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Europol - CBRN & Explosives team were present.

The main purpose of the conference was to promote the debate on recent cases involving the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and radiological materials (CBRN). The 23 experts involved as trainers were able to develop the participants’ knowledge, skills, techniques and tools through the analysis of the most recent incidents occurring in Europe.

This joint CEPOL - Europol activity happened for the first time in Portugal, and the training programme was designed and jointly prepared by the National Republican Guard and Europol.

The participants were invited to combine all their knowledge and “hands on” capacity, challenged by the possibility of using innovative strategies and techniques for the neutralisation of the highly complex and dangerous threats.

The Conference ended on 19th October, after a debriefing on the methodologies, strategies and techniques used during the training, aiming to provide a reflection on the best practices to face this kind of threats.