IEDs: Global Threat To Civilian Population
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Several weeks ago an IED killed 20 people in a popular Hindu shrine in the center of Bangkok, and just a couple of years ago 3 people were killed and hundreds more injured by an explosion of an IED during the Boston Marathon.
Although thought by most to be more of a military-type threat which poses risk for soldiers in the battlefield, IEDs are actually also a threat to civilian population all around the world, Interpol’s secretary general, Jürgen Stock, said this week in a news interview in Australia where the first-ever international forum to counter such threats was held. Interpol, the international criminal police organization that’s based in France, co-hosted the Sept. 2-4 international conference along with Australian law enforcement and defense agencies to develop or enhance information sharing about IEDs and training capabilities among police and military personnel.
Over 10,000 civilians died just in the passing year all around the world as a result of IEDs, said Stock, stating that IEDs are a favorite weapon amongst terrorists and lone wolf-type criminals. To counter such weapon there is a need to develop or enhance information sharing about IEDs and training capabilities among police and military personnel.
Stock also mentioned that the threat will only increase in the future due to foreign fighters traveling to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq to join the terrorist fight there as well as learn bomb-making skills that they can use to commit terrorist acts when they return to their home countries. According to him, 25,000 such foreign fighters arriving from a 100 different countries have joined terror groups such as ISIS, fighting in conflict areas.
And so the Interpol is now building global platforms and databases to share information about these individuals with its 190 member states. One database contains 5,000 profiles of these fighters while there are other databases that include fingerprints, DNA material, and lost, stolen and forged identity or travel documents such passports. Such a fortunate initiative will allow access for more security services to join hands in preventing such hostile persons from returning to their countries.
