Partners NewsBest models of interventions against amok shooters
Attacks committed by frustrated, violent individuals or lone-actor terrorists are a nightmare scenario for law enforcement forces and the intelligence community as they are extremely difficult to detect and act against, hence the reason why it is important to provide specific training on this topic. To fulfil this need, CEPOL onsite course 85/2022 Violent attacks against public - amok shootings took place in Zegrze, Poland, from 4 to 7 October 2022.
Organised by the Police Training Centre in Legionowo, this training activity welcomed 26 participants from 18 Member States and North Macedonia.
Infamous acts of violence in the USA, New Zeeland and Thailand exemplify the many differences in targets and modus operandi as well as the varieties in the political or ideological background of the perpetrators. Moreover, information about violent attacks against public committed by this type of offenders give rise to collective fear and anxiety.
During the training activity, topics were presented by experts from Spain and Poland. An expert from the Terrorism Research Centre of Collegium Civitas from Warsaw outlined the differences between terrorist attacks and the phenomenon of amok shootings. Another expert from the Spanish Guardia Civil talked about the characteristics of the modus operandi of lone-actor terrorists and violent loners. In addition, she shared her experience in preventing terrorist attacks in public spaces.
In this training activity, a former Polish long-serving police officer from the counterterrorism unit in Warsaw shared examples of actions and resources that can be used to minimize the risk of severe targeted violence. During some practical sessions, he presented models of intervention for police officers who are first on the scene. The main part of his sessions were simulations connected to interventions against active shooters in buildings, especially schools.
A representative from the Internal Security Agency shared some practices to mitigate the risks of severe targeted violence and to enhance inter-institutional cooperation leading to prevent public violent attacks.
The last days of the course were dedicated to present best practices and models of intervention taken towards marauding attacks by first responders. The practical sessions were conducted by an expert from the Spanish National Police.
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About the host organisation
The Police Training Centre (PTC) in Legionowo was established in 1990. The PTC is today one of largest police schools in Poland. The main activity of the Centre is the implementation of training and in-service training for police officers and staff.
The educational offer and facilities of the centre are being continuously developed and modernised. They consist of numerous teaching and training rooms, as well as highly specialist laboratories.
The PTC organises other specialised courses on individual demand of the units subordinated to the Ministry of Interior or other civil entities. The centre, as the only training unit in the country, implements central in-service training in the following areas: service dogs, water police, bomb – disposal operations, operational technique, specialist training course for instructions of police shooting in anti – terrorist units. The centre also carries out in-service training that includes the extensive thematic scope of forensic technique and traffic police.
