The threat of bioterrorism is real and there is enough evidence to show that terrorists are interested in acquiring weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including bioweapons, Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble said."Some people still question whether the threat of bioterrorism is real, they question whether it is truly necessary to prepare for it. I have no doubt that the threat is real," he told senior Asian police officers at the Interpol Asian Bioterrorism Workshop on Preventing Bioterrorism here Monday.
He later told reporters that while there was no information available of an immediate bioattack plan, it was important that countries put in place sufficient measures to counter such threats.
"All too often history has shown us that the impossible can and does happen. If we have the chance to take measures to protect the citizens of our nations, to help reduce the chances of our countries becoming a target, then we have a duty to do so," said Noble. Among such measures was to put in place legislations to improve a nation's ability to deal with the threat. Other measures include the availability of training for police personnel and the sharing of information between the forces.
"The response we have already received to our ongoing bioterrorism programmes makes it clear that police around the world are now also beginning to recognise and respond to this threat," he said.
One of the peculiar things about bioterror attacks was its crime scene.
Unlike in an ordinary crime scene, the police would "run to it" to conduct investigation but in the event of a bioterror attack, "you might not want to run" to the crime scenes because of the danger it poses, he said.
As part of continued support for its 184 member countries in developing national bioterrorism prevention programmes, Interpol is also preparing a Biological Incident Response Guide -- a comprehensive, step by step manual for law enforcement in preparing for, and dealing with, a bio incident.