Countering Suicide Terrorism by RUSI (6th March 2007)

When detection is frustrated by scale and deterrence rendered near impossible by motivations, how can the state organise itself to defend against committed, would-be suicide attackers? The second session in the Homeland Security & Resilience Department’s series on suicide terrorism examines this issue of great import for all; not least the police and military personnel who carry the foremost burden in developing and applying policy.

The paramount near-term aim must be denial of tactical effect; saving lives, reducing perceptions of terrorist efficacy, sustaining public resilience and protecting valuable infrastructure. Improvements in intelligence, investigation, physical security and crisis management can together all contribute to the ultimate strategic defeat of terrorism.

This session will examine the ‘toolkit’ for countering suicide terrorism. Suicide attacks are not necessarily ‘sophisticated’, as often described. However, the will of the attackers and the absence of or relatively weak links to broader groups can make them difficult to detect and assess. This session outlines these issues, suggests possible solutions and opens the debate on an efficacious response that ensures public security and safety.

Speakers:

‘Intelligence & Counter Terrorism’ Sir Paul Lever KCMG Chairman, RUSI

‘Tactical Considerations for the Defeat of Suicide IEDs’ Major (retd) Chris Driver-Williams Counter IED Consultant, US DoD. Formerly, IED Intelligence Team Leader at the Defence Intelligence Staff, MOD

‘Protective Security: New Challenges’ Stephen Swain Security Consultant, Control Risks Group. Formerly, head of International Counter Terrorism Unit, Metropolitan police

‘Anti-Terrorism Investigations’ Detective Chief Inspector Chris Byrne SO15 Counter Terrorism Command, Metropolitan police

‘LTTE tactics and Government responses’ Dr. Brendan O’Duffy Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, Queen Mary University of London

‘The Application of Non-Lethal Weapons in Anti-Terrorist Operations’ Dr. Tobias Feakin Head of Capabilties, Homeland Security & Resilience Department, RUSI