The launch of the European Platform HRSN (HIGH RISK SECURITY Network) for the fight against the new terrorist threat.

  • The objective of the Network is to identify how to reinforce the protection of public places against future terrorist attacks.
  • The facilities of the Rural Action Unit of the Civil Guard will host the first edition, with the total of 40 European specialists in counterterrorism.

Logroño, 13th of November 2017 –The meeting to launch the High Risk Security Network will take place between the 14th and 16th of November in the facilities of the Rural Action Unit of the Civil Guard in Logroño (La Rioja). Its objective is to bind various units from the European Union Member States, similar to the Rapid Action Unit (GAR) of the Civil Guard, involved in the fight against the new terrorist threat. The aimis to comply with one of the biggest and growing concerns within the European Union, which is how to improve and strengthen the protection of spaces with large concentrations of people and other sensitive targets against the "modus operandi" of Jihadist terrorism that took place in the attack on March 11th, 2004 at Atocha Station in Madrid, its starting point in Europe.

This initiative coordinated by the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs of the Commission is led by the new Dutch High Security Unit of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNM) and the Rapid Action Group (GAR) of the Spanish Civil Guard. These two police units, similar in their structure, training and tasks, decided a year ago to provide their experience and initiative to continue building a safer Europe. As a result of numerous meetings in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, the launch of this Platform has been designed and energized.

40 representatives from 20 countries of the European Union will attend the meeting (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom) with the objective of identifying within each country those units that could be part of this new Platform and thus be able to enrich and improve the techniques and procedures to avoid terrorist attacks.

Among the different activities scheduled, the last attacks committed in Europe will be analyzed, especially the one carried out in the Ramblas of Barcelona on August 17th, and there will be an intention to extract lessons learned in terms of prevention and detection to avoid these new threats. In addition, there will be Dutch, German and British expert analysts who will give lectures on the current situation of Jihadist terrorism in Europe.

Throughout the conference, we will try to put together the experiencein the European context of each of the participating countrieswith regard to the new Jihadist threat. We will analyze how their operational units involved in the protection and security of the territory have been restructured in the face of this new threat, we will explain the new functions in this area and, finally, we will explore the possible commitment and collaboration for the creation and start-up of this new European Platform. It is, in short, to identify in each country those units similar to HRSU and GAR.

THE EUROPEAN PLATFORM HRSN

Among the objectives of the HRS Network, and as reflected in the draft Charter to be discussed during the conference, is:

  • To allow Member States to establish a high-risk safety network with gendarmerie or police units specializing in the protection of these objectives.
  • To establish a discussion forum for the exchange of good training practices and operational methodology between the different units participating in the Platform that allows the improvement of the techniques, tactics and procedures of these operational units.
  • To constitute a reference body for the validation of recommendations, instructions and application procedures and good practice guides for other units of the different countries in order to increase the level of security and self-protection considering the risk posed by the new terrorist threat.
  • To cooperate with other networks of the European police bodies already established to ensure harmonization, coordination and exchange of good practices.

The conclusion of this session on the improvement of security in Europe is to obtain a reference document that collects the fundamental principles on the operation of the future network and in which the framework for the effective cooperation of the units is defined. In this founding document, in addition to the objectives and responsibilities of the HRS Network, there will be established the principles of action, internal operation, coordination and all those aspects necessary for this new Platform to start operating in the year 2018.

This launching conference of the HRS Network will be chaired by the Dutch General Head of National Tactical Command of the RNM and by the General of the Civil Guard Chief of the Headquarters of the Special Units and of Reserve (JUER). This conference is sponsored by the IUISI (University Institute of Homeland Security) within the agreement of collaboration between the UNED and the Civil Guard.

MEDIA MEETING

The presentation of the HRSN Platform

Day: Wednesday, 15th of November, 2017

Time: 10:45 (issue of accreditations)

11:00 (beginning of the presentation, taking pictures and statements of the maximumauthorities of the Platform)

Place: the UAR Headquarters

c/ Duques de Nájera, 127

Logroño

There is NO parking within the headquarters for the media.

Punctuality is requested.

Demonstration of the anti-terrorist capabilities in charge of the GAR

Day: Wednesday, 15th of November, 2017

Time: 16:15(issue of accreditations)

16:30 (beginning of the demonstration)

Place: Experience Site for Special Forces-
Guardia Civil (PEFE-GC)

The parking is available for the media inside de field of practice.

Punctuality is requested. ONCE THE EXERCISE HAS STARTED THE ENTRY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FOR SECURITY REASONS.

For more information, contact the Peripheral communication Office (OPC) of the Rural Action Unit in Logroño on phone 941 22 52 44, 680 440 583.