The European Union's response to the CBRN terrorist threat: A multiple streams approach

This article examines how the European Union (EU) has sought to address the threat of CBRN terrorism using Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework. It demonstrates that the EU has significantly developed its response to the CBRN terrorist threat, but that it has followed a piecemeal approach to a significant extent. It also argues that, in contrast to the intense debates about the CBRN terrorist threat and the large number of policy proposals generated, the EU has only adopted a limited number of 'hard law' instruments, although some of those have had a significant impact. This stands in contrast to the large body of 'soft law' that has gradually developed, albeit with all its limitations

Past as prologue? The risk of adoption of chemical and biological weapons by non-state actors in the EU

There have been relatively few serious incidents of chemical or biological terrorism in Europe; however, there is growing concern over how non-state groups might exploit chemistry and biology for hostile purposes in the future. This article uses the historical record of past incidents of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) adoption by non-state actors to inform understandings of the current and future risks. To achieve this, the article analyses six interlinked clusters of factors that can be seen as important in assessing the risk of whether or not to adopt such weapons. These are: the perceived relative advantage of CBW and their utilities; the complexity of such weapons; their ideological compatibility; the role of organisational structures; the visibility and ‘fashionability’ of such weapons; and the wider environmental context. Drawing from past cases of CBW adoption and the present European context, an analysis of these factors suggests that sophisticated CBW with gigantic effect are possible, but unlikely; however, the adoption and use of scruffy low-level chemical weapons is a distinct possibility. Accordingly, European public health agencies need to prepare for the possibility of a variety of CBW, not all of which are likely to be weapons of “mass destruction”

The European Union as a Global Counter-Terrorism Actor

After the death of Osama Bin Laden and the demise of Al Qaeda, the EU is increasingly threatened by new jihadi terrorist groups such as ISIS, as exemplified by recent terror attacks on Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin and Manchester. This book investigates the role of the EU in dealing with such groups as part of its counter-terrorism efforts, by outlining the increasing role of the EU as an external counter-terrorism actor.This significant book provides a comprehensive analysis of the global dimension of European Union (EU) counter-terrorism. It focuses on the growth of the EU as a global counter-terrorism actor, from it having almost no role in 2001 to becoming a significantly greater force in recent years.Analysing one of the most important policy areas of European integration, authors Christian Kaunert, Alex MacKenzie and Sarah Léonard consider the key question of why the EU may have become a global actor in counter-terrorism. The authors then develop a unique theoretical approach in the form of actorness and collective securitization, which analyses the EU’s evolution as a counter-terrorism actor in different case studies, such as counter-terrorism in the transatlantic relationship, North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Overall, this book highlights that the EU is, in fact, becoming a counter-terrorism actor of growing importance and with an ever-diversifying number of policy options available.Addressing topical matters, this book will be a key resource for scholars, researchers and students in fields such as European studies, international relations, political science and governance. It will also attract the attention of practitioners, politicians, non-governmental and civil society organisations

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE DANGER OF CBRN TERRORISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

SWOT analiza, odnosno analiza snaga (strengths), slabosti (weaknesses), prilika (oportunities) i prijetnji (threats) je metoda koja omogućuje procjenu održivosti poslovnog modela tvrtki, a može se koristiti i za procjenu strategija državnih politika. Kroz analizu snaga i slabosti sustava kemijske, biološke, radiološke i nuklearne (KBRN) sigurnosti Republike Hrvatske prikazane su unutarnje značajke zaštite hrvatskog društva od kemijskih, bioloških, radioloških i nuklearnih terorističkih i drugih prijetnji. Prilike koje pospješuju i prijetnje koje ugrožavaju kemijsku, biološku, radiološku i nuklearnu sigurnost većinom su posljedica unutarnjih društvenih procesa kao i utjecaja iz međunarodnog okruženja. Učinkovitom organizacijom i funkcioniranjem sustava nacionalne sigurnosti, koji uključuje i kemijsku, biološku, radiološku i nuklearnu sigurnost, prilike postaju snage, a prijetnjama se onemogućuje da prerastu u slabosti. U ovom radu, koji se temelji na podacima prikupljenim iz dostupnih znanstvenih i drugih relevantnih izvora, nastoji se identificirati ključne čimbenike koji jačaju ili smanjuju ranjivost Republike Hrvatske na KBRN terorizam. Svrha rada je procjena sposobnosti Hrvatske da se nosi s kemijskim, biološkim, radiološkim i nuklearnim prijetnjama.SWOT analysis is a method that enables analysis and assessment of the sustainability of the companies business model. SWOT analysis can also be used to assess government policy strategies in specific segments of social activity through the assessment of four key factors: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threatshs. Through the strengths and weaknesses analysis of the chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) safety and security system of the Republic of Croatia, the internal features of protecting Croatian society from CBRN terrorist and other threats are presented. Opportunities that improve and threats that weaken CBRN safety and security are mostly the result of internal social processes as well as influences from the international environment. By effectively organizing and functioning a national security system, which includes the CBRN security, opportunities become strengths and threats are prevented from growing into weaknesses. This work is based on collected and analyzed data from available scientific and social sources. In this work was trayed to identify key factors that strengthen or reduce the vulnerability of the Republic of Croatia to CBRN terrorism, and the purpose of this paper is to estimate the ability of the Republic of Croatia to deal with CBRN threats

Agentes químicos de guerra: agentes químicos emergentes

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, 2020, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia.Ao longo dos séculos, o uso de armas químicas tem feito parte da evolução do ser humano. Acompanhando a inovação tecnológica, tem sido vasto o desenvolvimento de novos agentes químicos, mais eficientes e letais. Da mesma forma, também a produção de EPI (Equipamentos de Proteção Individual) e de diferentes tipos de armamento se foi revelando essencial na denominada “Guerra Química”. São vários os momentos da História em que se recorreu aos agentes químicos, especialmente em contexto bélico, como são os casos da Primeira Guerra Mundial (1914-1918) e da Guerra Irão-Iraque (1980-1988), mas também em situações de terrorismo, como se verificou em Matsumoto (1994) e em Tóquio (1995), através das ações do grupo Aum Shinrikyo. Tendo em conta o risco que este tipo de armas apresenta para a saúde da população devido aos seus efeitos nefastos, e também o seu baixo custo e facilidade de produção, torna-se pertinente estudar os vários tipos de agentes e as suas características principais e determinar o contexto das diversas utilizações. É ainda importante perceber a legislação que regulamenta o seu uso e os vários métodos de deteção e proteção que têm vindo a ser desenvolvidos ao longo dos anos. Desta forma, estes temas são abordados ao longo do presente trabalho, dando especial ênfase aos Agentes Neurotóxicos, pois são considerados os mais letais, para além de serem aqueles que mais continuam a ser usados no contexto atual. Dentro deste grupo, será dado destaque ao novo agente neurotóxico denominado de “Novichok”, que tem sido utilizado várias vezes nos últimos anos, particularmente em situações do denominado “Terrorismo patrocinado pelo Estado”, como é o caso do ataque ao antigo espião russo Sergei Skripal e à sua filha Yulia, em 2018. São ainda abordadas as perspetivas futuras em relação a um possível uso de armas químicas em contexto militar, mas especialmente em situações de ataques terroristas, tendo em conta eventos recentes, como é o caso do uso de gás mostarda na Síria em 2015, por parte do Estado Islâmico.Over the centuries, the use of chemical weapons has been part of the human being evolution. Following the technological innovation, the development of new chemical agents, more efficient and lethal, has been vast. Likewise, the production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and different types of weaponry proved to be essential in the so-called “Chemical War”. There are several moments in History when chemical agents have been used, especially in a warlike context, such as the First World War (1914-1918) and the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), but also in terrorism situations, as was the case in Matsumoto (1994) and Tokyo (1995), through the actions of the Aum Shinrikyo group. Taking into account the risk that this type of weapons poses to the population’s health due to its harmful effects, as well as its low cost and ease of production, it becomes crucial to study the various types of agents and their main characteristics and determine the context of the various uses. It is also important to understand the legislation regulating their use and the several methods of detection and protection that have been developed over the years. Thus, these themes are adressed throughout this project, giving special emphasis to Nerve Agents, as they are considered the most lethal, in addition to being those that continue to be used the most in the current context. Within this group, emphasis is given to the new nerve agent called “Novichok”, which has been used several times in recent years, particularly in situations of the so-called “State Sponsored Terrorism”, such as the attack on the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, in 2018. Future prospects about possible use of chemical weapons in a military context, but especially in situations of terrorist attacks, are also adressed, taking into account recent events such as the mustard gas use in Syria by the Islamic State, in 2015

La prevenzione di eventi CBRN di natura intenzionale: obblighi UE e attuazione in Italia

The article intends to investigate scope and content of the core EU obligations on Member States to prevent the commission of terrorist acts through the use of CBRN weapons, as well as to eval-uate the adaptation of Italian national law. To this end, it provides a brief overview of the supra-national context and, in particular, of the approach taken by the Union in preventing terrorist attacks of CBRN nature. Later, the main categories of prevention obligations in the CBRN will be reconstructed. To complete the picture, it will be critically illustrated whether and how Italy has implemented its obligations under EU law and to what extent it can be considered a virtuous example in preventing CBRN events of intentional origin

Yihadismo. Armas de destrucción masiva.

El presente trabajo de investigación está enfocado en la amenaza del terrorismo yihadista en relación a la comisión de atentados con un tipo de arma no convencional. Aunque no ha llegado a tener una especial relevancia en número de personas asesinadas hasta el momento, podría suponer un gran desafío en términos de seguridad en el panorama actual. Nos referimos al empleo de armas de destrucción masiva, conocidas técnicamente por sus siglas como armas NBQ-R, Nucleares, Biológicas, Químicas y Radiológicas, las cuales a pesar del imparable y ambicioso plan del dirigente de la organización terrorista Al-Qaeda hace dos décadas, Osama Bin Laden, de hacerse con este tipo de armamento, no obtuvo el éxito esperado. Sin embargo, ha sido en la década pasada cuando el grupo yihadista Daesh toma el relevo consiguiendo avances importantes en dicho campo, exportando sus supuestos conocimientos técnicos para fabricar este tipo de artefactos y seguir sembrando el pánico entre gente inocente, ya sea en Oriente Medio, Asia, Europa, o en la zona donde actualmente, y después del declive sufrido, se están perpetrando la mayor parte de atentados de corte yihadista, es decir las zonas del Sahel del continente africano. El objetivo de este trabajo no es otro que evidenciar que este tipo de armas de destrucción masiva no está proliferando como las organizaciones yihadistas esperaban, y por lo tanto no suponen una amenaza en manos de personal no suficientemente cualificado. A través de base de datos de fuente abierta se ha obtenido información relativa a atentados cometidos con las armas mencionadas, y según las estadísticas no parece haber tenido un gran impacto en cuanto a número de personas fallecidas se refiere, sin descartar su manifiesta letalidad en caso de prosperar. No obstante, la coordinación y cooperación con otros países es fundamental para prevenir y neutralizar este tipo de amenaza.This research work is focused on the threat of jihadist terrorism in relation to the commission of attacks with a type of non-conventional weapon. Although it has not come to have a special relevance in terms of the number of people killed so far, it could represent a great challenge in terms of security in the current scenario. We are referring to the use of weapons of mass destruction, technically known by their acronym as CBRN, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear weapons, which despite the unstoppable and ambitious plan of the leader of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda two decades ago, Osama Bin Laden, to get hold of this type of weaponry, did not obtain the expected success. However, it has been in the past decade that the Daesh jihadist group has taken over, making important advances in this field, exporting its technical knowledge to manufacture this type of device and continuing to spread panic among innocent people, whether in the Middle East, Europe, or in the area where currently, and after the decline suffered, jihadist-style attacks are being perpetrated, that is, the Sahel area of the African continent. The main objective of this project is to demonstrate that this type of weapons of mass destruction is not proliferating as the jihadist organizations expected, and therefore do not pose a threat in the hands of insufficiently qualified personnel. Through open source databases, information has been obtained regarding attacks committed with the aforementioned weapons, and according to the statistics it does not seem to have had a great impact in terms of the number of deceased persons, without ruling out its manifest lethality in case to prosper. However, coordination and cooperation with other countries is essential to prevent and neutralize this type of threat

Propaganda do terror : ameaças para a segurança da União Europeia

O Daesh revolucionou a forma de fazer terrorismo, pois através de uma potente máquina propagandística, foi capaz de alinhar narrativa, ideologia e espetáculo, alcançando uma popularidade e recrutamento cobiçados por qualquer organização. De facto, a Europa está a sofrer os efeitos desta propaganda: lobos solitários, células terroristas, combatentes estrangeiros, bem como a polarização da sociedade como consequência de um ciclo de ódio criado pela dinâmica recrutamento-ataque-xenofobia. Uma análise dos relatórios do Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas, artigos científicos, entrevistas, e notícias sobre a evolução dos factos no terreno, possibilitou, mediante uma estatégia qualitativa e raciocínio dedutivo, atingir o objetivo desta pesquisa: identificar as políticas e ferramentas dos domínios policial e militar que têm funcionado no combate contra as potenciais ameaças do Daesh à segurança da União Europeia. Resumidamente, concluiu-se que embora os atentados tenham diminuído, isto não se traduz numa redução da ameaça, mas como um período de transição que revela um futuro de incertezas para a Europa, especialmente quando observado o número de conspirações e tentativas frustradas, fruto dos esforços antiterroristas. Ou seja, esta fase de transição não resulta de uma perda de motivação dos terroristas, mas da perturbação da sua capacidade para planear e executar ataques.Daesh revolutionised the way in which terrorism is made, since it was able to align narrative, ideology and spectacle by means of a powerful propaganda machine, reaching a popularity and recruitment capacity coveted by any organization. In fact, Europe is suffering from the effects of this propaganda: lone wolves, terrorist cells, foreign fighters, and the polarization of society as a result of the cycle of hatred that stems from the dinamycs of recruitment-attack-xenophobia. An in-depth analysis of the United Nations Security Council reports, scientific articles, interviews and news about the situation on the spot, made possible, using a qualitative strategy through a deductive method, to reach the goal of this study: the identification of the policies and tools in the military and police domains that have worked out in the fight against the potential threat that Daesh poses to the security of the European Union. Briefly, we concluded that although the attacks have reduced, the threat has not, opening a period that reveals a future of uncertainties for Europe, especially when observed the number of foiled attacks, resulting of counter-terrorist efforts. It was not a loss of motivation, but the disruption of the group capacity to plan and execute attacks