INTERPOL Chief meets with Iraqi Prime Minister to discuss security

BAGHDAD, Iraq –  INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abaidi to discuss a range of measures to identify and arrest foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) both within Iraq and abroad.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abaidi to discuss a range of measures to identify and arrest foreign terrorist fighters both within Iraq and abroad.

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With ISIS/Daesh militarily defeated, the focus is now on law enforcement efforts to address the evolving threat posed by FTFs and investigate crimes committed on Iraqi territory.

The Secretary General headed an INTERPOL team in Baghdad which is liaising with the Ministry of Interior and its partners to identify areas for enhanced cooperation in relation to counter-terrorism, forensics and border security.

Evidence and information from the battlefield is playing a significant role in enhancing security around the world.

Biometric data recovered from Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq and the Gulf shared via INTERPOL has already resulted in the identification of suspects in Europe and Asia.

“The INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Baghdad is one of the most active in the region, regularly sharing vital policing information,” said Secretary General Stock.

“Discussions have focused on how we can help Iraqi authorities to further strengthen the National Central Bureau and enhance the quality of information for successful investigations.

“We are now looking at a range of joint activities which will help achieve long term, sustainable results and benefits for the Iraqi security services,” added the INTERPOL Chief, who highlighted proposals to expand access to INTERPOL’s global databases to strategic locations.

Another potential area for assistance is through INTERPOL’s Project FIRST (Facial, Imaging, Recognition, Searching and Tracking) which focuses on biometric data sharing on FTFs.

Secretary General Stock’s mission to Iraq will build on outcomes from the Conference on mobilizing law enforcement efforts to defeat ISIS (Daesh) held in Washington DC this week and the recent Global Coalition Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS/Daesh in Kuwait.