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THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
New approach to CBRN-E risks (ed/ak, Berlin; cm, Aachen) For over a decade, the mitigation of CBRN threats has been part of the European Commission’s activities. Based on a report of the CBRN Task Force, the Commission presented its EU CBRN Action Plan in 2009. This Action Plan was followed up by the “Communication on a new EU approach to the detection and mitigation of CBRN-E risks” in 2014, focusing on activities to tackle threats posed by terrorists using chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear materials as well as explosives.
A new approach to the detection and mitigation of CBRN-E risks The objectives of this Communication are to better assess the risks, to develop countermeasures, to share knowledge and best practices, test and validate new safeguards with the ultimate goal of adopting new security standards. […]
Excerpts from the 2014 communication:
impacts and therefore also pose threats to EU security. […]
“[T]he threat from CBRN materials and explosives remains high and is evolving. […] The EU debate on radicalisation recently intensified. Latest reports suggest that of particular concern are returnees from Syria. Some of these and other radicalised individuals, having access to and working in sensitive areas might use their insider knowledge to strike against critical infrastructures, such as a water purification plant, or they may disable railways electrical power supplies. Such insider threats may have transnational
While work at national level continues to play a vital role in the fight against terrorism, a robust, better designed, and proportionate strategy to anticipate and deter future CBRN-E risks at EU level is needed, including tackling illegal methods of production, handling, concealing and storing these materials. It is therefore important to adopt a proactive approach and to put effective, proportional safeguards in place, including prevention, preparedness and response measures at EU level, while respecting fundamental rights. […]
Better detection […] The Commission will • support further short-term trials for practitioners in order to improve detection … ultimately leading to creation of an EU approach to public events security • review and build on the gap analysis on the detection of explosives • carry out a gap analysis on the detection of CBRN materials • prepare analytical papers and overviews of CBRN and explosives threats and risks indifferent areas of public security, including transport to support policy • organize and support more actions dealing with the issue of insider threats […].
Major historical CBRN incidents and attacks 1976, July
Chemical accident
Seveso, Italy
• Overpressure value in the manufacture of the disinfectant hexachlorophene • Release of highly toxic and cancer-causing dioxin compound TCDD into the environment • 447 people were found to suffer from skin lesions or chloracne • 3.300 animals found dead • 80.000 animals had to be slaughtered photo: CGP Grey,CC BY 2.0, Flickr.com
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1984, December Chemical accident
Bhopal, India
• Gas leak incident at a pesticide plant in Bhopal • Over 600,000 people living in the nearby shanty town exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other chemicals • At least 3.787 people killed (government figures refer to 15000 over the years) • At least 558.125 people injured
photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0, Flickr.com
1986, April Nuclear accident
Chernobyl, Ukraine
• An explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere (Level 7- maximum classification) • radioactive particles spread over much of western USSR and Europe • 31 people died during accident • Long-term effects like cancers, radiation syndrome or leukemia still being investigated photo: Uwe Brodrecht, CC BY 2.0, Flickr.com
1995, June
Religious terrorist attack
Tokyo
• The religious movement Aum Shinrikyo released sarin nerve gas in Tokyo subway • 13 people died • More than 6,000 others were suffering the effects of the nerve gas • This worst attack in modern Japanese history prompted global concern about terrorist groups obtaining chemical weapons photo: Luca Mascaro, CC BY-SA 2.0, Flickr.com
