Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network and United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre joint Virtual Strategic Bioterrorism Table-Top Exercise
London/New York, 18 June 2021 – The Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN) and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) hosted a joint virtual table-top exercise on bioterrorism preparedness.
Mr. Alex Townsend-Drake, Head of Programme for CTPN, said: “We were pleased to welcome over 60 international stakeholders from the United Nations, World Health Organisation, NATO, INTERPOL, and the European Commission alongside some national experts as well as CTPN members and partners spanning Europe, North America and Australasia. This provided a rare opportunity to converge the expertise of senior leaders from city authorities and specialist organisations with those of international counterparts against the complexities posed by the threat of bioterrorism”.
Whilst generally considered to still be low in terms of likelihood, bioterrorism is recognised as a potentially high-impact threat. Reports have alerted that advances in technology and biosciences coupled with the gaps in preparedness exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic could accelerate the bioterrorism threat. This is exacerbated by the emergence of largely unregulated independent biology laboratories, which create a vacuum that could be exploited.
During the exercise, stakeholders engaged in counter terrorism and security, preparedness and resilience, as well as emergency response participated in scenario-based discussions, to reduce the impact of a potential bioterrorism attack.
Opened by the Mayor of Stockholm, this interactive session followed the CTPN Bioterrorism Conference and the publication of the CTPN report on “Bioterrorism: Applying the Lens of COVID-19”. The exercise enabled stakeholders engaged in counter terrorism and security, preparedness, and resilience, as well as emergency response to participate in scenario-based discussions, facilitated against the potential impacts of a bioterrorism attack. Bringing CTPN and UNCCT together added value through the exchange and alignment of international priorities with those of city authorities.
Dr. Alexandra Göransson, Chair of the CTPN International Board and Deputy Chief Executive for the City of Stockholm highlighted that: “Collaboration and preparedness is critical if we are to develop our arrangements and capabilities to respond to the potential threats we face. A holistic and integrated approach at all levels is necessary. In the context of bioterrorism preparedness this means that security and public health must be hand-in-glove, as part of a broader view including multi-agency arrangements and city operations”.
Dr. Jehangir Khan, UNCCT Director, concluded the exercise stating: “Today’s Table-Top Exercise has offered a platform for city leaders, policymakers and experts to reflect on the bioterrorism threat. The convergence of city authorities with international institutions has also enabled the exchange of knowledge and experience. The scenario underscored the complexities of the threats we may face, the capability of technology and the significant impacts bio-agents could have upon agencies, populations and city operations”.
The event emphasized the need to continue to enhance collaborations and take a proactive approach towards bioterrorism preparedness, to allow authorities to increase preparedness for public health crises and build societal resilience more broadly.
CTPN and UNOCT reiterated their commitment and will continue their efforts and plan to collaborate on wider Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats.