Nations face a range of threats and attacks – from highly organised and networked groups to lone actors. The weapons are evolving and now include traditional explosives and automatic rifles, to vehicles, say organisers of the annual World Counter Terror Congress. Over two days, government officials and private security companies will discuss future threats and shape the world’s counter terror strategy.
Topics will range from terrorist funding, counter radicalisation tactics, to emerging threats, privacy and technology, by officials and academics, providing trends and information to attendees. Among the speakers will be Sir Malcolm Rifkind, pictured, the former Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Intelligence & Security Committee of Parliament, who will discuss the first 100 days of the Trump administration.
He said: “One man driving a lorry into a crowded market represents a new era in terrorism and it is a challenge all Western nations face. We need to ensure security professionals from across the world are aligned in helping to reduce the risk to civilians and I’ll be monitoring how the US intelligence agencies evolve under the leadership of President Trump with interest. What’s vital is that we continue to share information and best practices with our allies, which is what the World Counter Terror Congress is designed to do.”
Rob Wainwright of Europol will also feature this year. He will discuss European cooperation on security and present the organisation’s views on counter terror strategy in an uncertain geopolitical climate. Mark Rowley, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, is expected to discuss extremism and the international and home-grown threats to the UK.
Richard Walton, the former head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) and now an adviser to the Expo, said: “The threat facing the UK and other nations is, and will remain, high for the years to come. Security professionals must use the World Counter Terror Congress to develop their understanding of where the threats are coming from and identify ways that they can be prevented – a multi-faceted intelligence-led approach is the only way to stop attacks in the future from happening.”
The World Counter Terror Congress will feature six sessions, covering policy and strategy responses to the changing terror threat; radicalisation, de-radicalisation and preventing radicalisation; geopolitical security briefings; encryption, communications and security; security for critical national infrastructure; and emerging terror networks and tactics.
Among those confirmed to speak are Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE, QC; Rob Wainwright, Director at Europol; Dr Jamie Shea, Deputy ASG, Emerging Security Challenges Division, NATO; Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI); and Thomas Wuchte, Head on Anti-Terrorism Issues, Action Against Terrorism Unit, Organisation for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The congress will take place within the Expo. Supported by the Home Office, the event will showcase counter terror and security solutions. Also planned are specialist free-to-attend conferences; on the Critical National Infrastructure & Business Resilience, Cyber Threat Intelligence – presented by techUK, and Border & Transport Security Live as well as a Counter IED zone and Advanced Technologies Live theatre.
The Expo is co-located with Ambition – the EPRR Expo – and Forensics Europe Expo. To register to attend visit http://www.counterterrorexpo.com/.
