- Events
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT), in collaboration with the Spanish National Police and the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN), organized an expert-level event to advance international efforts in protecting public transport against terrorist threats in Madrid on 18 June 2026.
The event, held under the Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets, brought together experts from CTPN, the Spanish National Police, the diplomatic community in Spain, international law enforcement agencies, academia, and the private sector to share good practices, tools, and recommendations. The activity was attended by close to 90 participants in person and 50 online from around the world.
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT presented the ¡°Technical Guide on the Protection of Public Transport Against Terrorist Threats¡±, launched on 18 March 2026 in New York, and provided a reflection on the good practices, tools and recommendations included in the document. During panel discussions, the Spanish National Police briefed the participants on lessons learned from attacks on public transport and the evolution of terrorist tactics, as well as intelligence-based threat assessments and vulnerability assessment methodologies.
The discussions also featured speakers from Transport for London, the UK Department of Transport, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), the Spanish National Railways Network (RENFE), the Madrid Municipal Police, the Madrid Metro, and the International Union of Railways (UIC), among others, who provided insights into international good practices and shared experiences on topics such as risk management and preventive measures, institutional frameworks and governance, the roles of national authorities, police, and operators; and cooperation at the local level in security planning.
The sessions emphasized the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, the integration of the private sector in security planning, and the sharing of strategies for protecting public transportation. Discussions also focused on emerging trends in the current landscape such as hybrid threats, the use of emerging technologies, and insider threats. Participants underscored the vital role of international cooperation and inter-institutional coordination, in order to tackle emerging forms of terrorism and improve the security of public transport systems.
This event, which was generously funded by the State of Qatar, promoted the exchange of experiences and knowledge and reaffirmed the shared commitment to protecting public transportation and building the resilience of transport systems against terrorist threats.
