Participants will discuss the risk of bio-terror attacks, case studies, prevention of attacks, preparation and training of law enforcement personnel, and the related legal and political framework.
Organizers hope the conference will bring together the world's most highly respected experts in policing and public health to assess the threat, reduce the risk and establish a global framework for sharing intelligence, experience and training. Among the confirmed keynote speakers are Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble, Interpol President Jackie Selebi, the former commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, Lord Stevens, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Zack Zaccardelli.
Preventing and fighting terrorism around the world is one of Interpol's highest priorities. Because bio-terrorism knows no geographic, national, economic or political boundaries, an incident in any one country is likely to cause immediate and profound worldwide impact.
The conference is part of a two-year Interpol program funded largely by a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. A series of workshops will also be held around the world over the next 18 months in Africa (autumn 2005), Asia (spring 2006) and North America (summer 2006).
