LYON, France - Delegates attending INTERPOL's first Global Conference on Preventing Bio-Terrorism, the largest-ever gathering of police, senior officials and experts from 155 countries, have agreed upon an important series of measures aimed at preventing or responding effectively to bio-terror attacks.

More than 500 delegates concluded that further co-operation between law enforcement agencies, public health authorities and other relevant organizations is essential to address the threat of bio-terrorism and agreed to work toward:

• establishing a resource centre at the disposal of law enforcement worldwide
• enhancing co-operation and understanding between international organizations
• developing an Incident Response Guide for law enforcement
• providing training and awareness programmes, including regional workshops
• seeking to develop, with law enforcement and relevant agencies, ways of gathering and sharing more effectively information concerning the threat of bio-terrorism.

The two-day conference examined 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.

'We at INTERPOL, and all who gathered in Lyon for this conference, do not need to witness an actual global biological terrorist attack before mobilising our defences,' Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said. 'We are already persuaded that the threat is real and present.'

INTERPOL's President, Jackie Selebi, said: 'We must build bridges with the life science community and the scientific community and prevent bio-terrorism through sustained communication with international law enforcement to mitigate the risks we are facing. INTERPOL and police services around the world must be part of a broader integrated response to combat the threat of biological weapons.'

Preventing and fighting terrorism around the world is one of INTERPOL's highest priorities. The conference is part of a two-year INTERPOL programme 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 - Africa (autumn 2005), Asia (spring 2006) and the Americas (summer 2006). Additional funding for conference expenses was received from Microsoft.

News and Media Releases   Interpol Conference agrees on measures to fight Bio-Terrorism        Bio-Terrorism Conference opens with warning of major threat        Interpol Bio-Terrorism Conference set to be largest ever        Interpol hosts first global conference on bio-terrorism        Interpol launches police training programme on bio-terrorism      Speeches   Speech by Jackie Selebi, President, Interpol   Speech by Ronald K. Noble, Secretary General, Interpol See also   All Interpol bioterrorism workshops and events   Presentations   Final Communiqué       Steps taken by member countries in response to UNSCR 1540   National Laws and Measures   Speakers' CVs   Conference announcement      Photo gallery       Agenda (Diffusion - 30/12/2004)     (Acrobat files)