The bomb-making process, potential recipes for the harmful use of explosives precursors, as well as potential new threats using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials, are monitored daily and cross-checked by Europol’s ECTC specialists. Europol also facilitates cooperation between CBRN and explosives specialists through the European Explosive Ordnance Disposal Network (EEODN), providing seminars and training, where responses to potential and realistic terrorist attack scenarios can be rehearsed.
Recent terrorist attacks and mass shootings in Member States and third parties have increased the visibility of firearms and the public concern for the threat they represent. Those acts have not only shed light on the availability of illegal firearms in the EU and their use by criminals and radical or violent individuals, but they also emphasise how illegal firearms are one of the preferred tools of religiously-inspired terrorists for perpetrating attacks in the EU. E-commerce has been identified as a key distribution channel for firearms in Europe. The Darknet, with its anonymity, ease of access and wide appeal, poses a growing security threat and represents a great challenge to European law enforcement with regard to firearms trafficking.
Europol plays a key role in supporting Member States fight criminal networks involved in illegal weapons and explosives trafficking. As part of a wider strategy to identify the criminal networks supplying terrorist groups with firearms and ammunition, Europol experts work closely with counter terrorism experts on international investigations. Moreover, Europol specialists and analysts combine efforts to assist Member States in developing their own resources to monitor and tackle the Darknet phenomenon.