Homeland Security Watch

Interpol held an Asian Regional Workshop on Preventing Bioterrorism this week in Singapore, the latest in a series of Interpol meetings on the topic of bioterrorism. From a news report on the meeting:

Police forces around the world are beginning to recognise bioterrorism as a serious threat despite sceptics who doubt that preventive measures are needed, the head of Interpol said in Singapore today.

Ronald Noble, secretary-general of the international police agency, warned of the danger of biological weapons during a workshop for police and other officials from across Asia.

Experts say a bioterrorist attack could be difficult to immediately detect and germs could be carried unnoticed by infected victims across continents.

“Some people still question whether the threat of bioterrorism is real, they question whether it is truly necessary to prepare for it. I have no doubt that the threat is real,” Noble said.

“If we have the chance to take measures to protect the citizens of our nations, to help reduce the chances of our countries of becoming a target, then we have a duty to do so,” he said.

“Police around the world are now also beginning to recognise and respond to this threat.”

Interpol’s engagement on the issue of bioterrorism seems like an appropriate and forward-leaning response to this threat, given the likely global impacts of a bioterror- or agroterror-related outbreak or pandemic. This is another indicator that Interpol is quietly playing a very important role in global counterterrorism and homeland security efforts.