The government has opened the Counter-Terrorism Science
and Technology Centre to help the Ministry of Defence’s scientific
response to terrorist threats.
The new centre will co-ordinate the MoD’s technical response to
terrorist incidents, such as last year’s bomb attacks in London and
those faced by armed forces overseas.
Defence minister John Reid said, “This new centre will provide a
world-class hub to ensure government laboratories, industry and
academia are used as efficiently as possible to enhance innovation
and keep one step ahead of evolving terrorist threats.”
As well as supporting MoD counter-terrorism efforts, the centre
will also provide a “one-stop shop” for other government
departments that use MoD expertise to tackle domestic terror
threats.
Centre director Ken Brigden said, “Threats against UK armed
forces are becoming increasingly sophisticated and diverse science
and technology advice plays an ever more crucial role in the
planning and preparation of military operations.”
