Jim Kouri
Bomb techs and investigators praised at international conference
By Jim Kouri
The head of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives praised the role bomb technicians and investigators play in the global war against terrorism at an international conference of law enforcement and military explosives experts.
Speaking to the members of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators in Tampa, Florida, ATF Director Carl Truscott discussed the crucial job of bomb technicians and investigators in Iraq and other countries that face a rising threat level as terrorists turn more often to explosives.
"People don't often get to hear of the bombings that were prevented, and the lives that are saved because you put yourselves in harm's way to prevent a would-be bomber from using an explosive device," Truscott said in honoring the group.
"We know that explosives are the chosen tools of career criminals and terrorist organizations," Truscott added.
"ATF continues to strive in providing education, training and resources to assist law enforcement in our combined goals to suppress violent crime."
One of the tools that assist bomb squads in preventing terrorists and others from using explosives is ATF's international explosives database. Law enforcement agencies have adopted and implemented a standard application database to share information and intelligence on explosives incidents, devices and methods, terrorist groups and firearms. So far, the ATF, Britain, Colombia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Singapore have implemented the standard.
The ATF has led the effort in establishing a standard platform to foster information sharing throughout the international law enforcement community.
"ATF is a valuable partner of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators in countering and defeating the threat that explosives present," said Lawrence A. Gardiner, International Director, IABTI.
"We exchange valuable technical and investigative information, expertise and training on explosives to protect the public," he said.
Another tool available to bomb technicians and investigators is ATF's U.S. Bomb Data Center, which contains data describing more than 160,000 arson and explosives incidents reports from across the country.
ATF also contributes the expertise of its National Response Teams, laboratories and explosives detection canines to explosives incidents and investigations.
IABTI Director Gardiner stated: "We are the cop on the corner, the fireman with the smoke-smudged face, the soldier doing humanitarian de-mining, the analyst who examines the pieces of the puzzle and the WMD specialist determining the potential threat posed by our adversaries. We're also the people who are called upon to eliminate that threat, and we do it every day.
"It is people like our members who serve their country and their fellow man by placing themselves in harm's way so that the rest of us may sleep peacefully, that make the IABTI so vital. Our membership represents every facet of the first responder community."
© Jim Kouri
The head of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives praised the role bomb technicians and investigators play in the global war against terrorism at an international conference of law enforcement and military explosives experts.
Speaking to the members of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators in Tampa, Florida, ATF Director Carl Truscott discussed the crucial job of bomb technicians and investigators in Iraq and other countries that face a rising threat level as terrorists turn more often to explosives.
"People don't often get to hear of the bombings that were prevented, and the lives that are saved because you put yourselves in harm's way to prevent a would-be bomber from using an explosive device," Truscott said in honoring the group.
"We know that explosives are the chosen tools of career criminals and terrorist organizations," Truscott added.
"ATF continues to strive in providing education, training and resources to assist law enforcement in our combined goals to suppress violent crime."
One of the tools that assist bomb squads in preventing terrorists and others from using explosives is ATF's international explosives database. Law enforcement agencies have adopted and implemented a standard application database to share information and intelligence on explosives incidents, devices and methods, terrorist groups and firearms. So far, the ATF, Britain, Colombia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Singapore have implemented the standard.
The ATF has led the effort in establishing a standard platform to foster information sharing throughout the international law enforcement community.
"ATF is a valuable partner of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators in countering and defeating the threat that explosives present," said Lawrence A. Gardiner, International Director, IABTI.
"We exchange valuable technical and investigative information, expertise and training on explosives to protect the public," he said.
Another tool available to bomb technicians and investigators is ATF's U.S. Bomb Data Center, which contains data describing more than 160,000 arson and explosives incidents reports from across the country.
ATF also contributes the expertise of its National Response Teams, laboratories and explosives detection canines to explosives incidents and investigations.
IABTI Director Gardiner stated: "We are the cop on the corner, the fireman with the smoke-smudged face, the soldier doing humanitarian de-mining, the analyst who examines the pieces of the puzzle and the WMD specialist determining the potential threat posed by our adversaries. We're also the people who are called upon to eliminate that threat, and we do it every day.
"It is people like our members who serve their country and their fellow man by placing themselves in harm's way so that the rest of us may sleep peacefully, that make the IABTI so vital. Our membership represents every facet of the first responder community."
© Jim Kouri
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