Training for specialists in Explosives and Weapons of Mass Destruction supported by Europol

70 explosives specialists, bomb technicians, investigators and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) experts from 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Australia and USA, as well as from the Centre of Excellence on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (CoE C-IED), European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), European Defence Agency (EDA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Police College (CEPOL) and Europol, participated in two conferences on explosives and CBRN, followed by a field training activity.

The specialists have exchanged information and intelligence on recent incidents involving explosives and CBRN materials in their respective countries, working together later on in multinational teams, facing different potential scenarios related to terrorist attacks. These training activities, carried out during one week, have dealt with the exchange of best practices, tactics and operational procedures. The final objective of this kind of activities is to increase the capacities and capabilities of EU first responders towards these threats, improving the safety and security of EU citizens.

These activities, related to the European EOD Network (EEODN) agenda, have been supported by the Unit TEDAX-NRBQ and the Operational Training Centre La Enira, both belonging to the Spanish National Police.

Europol created the European EOD Network (EEODN) in May 2008 as requested by the EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs. Since then, specialists on explosives and CBRN have met and worked together on a regular basis. The EEODN is also improving the civil-military cooperation of competent authorities in the field of explosives and CBRN.

Since year 2013, these activities have been successfully incorporated as part of CEPOL's training portfolio and were made possible through co-funding from Europol and CEPOL.