Cops to undergo terror attack response training

Karachi
The province’s cops will be trained to respond efficiently in the event of a terrorist attack besides participating in courses to learn advanced combat and advanced tactical weapons employment techniques so that they can effectively tackle the threat of terrorism.
“A standing operating procedure will be issued to the officers in the South district and also to the principals of the police trainings to start working on counter-terrorism strategies,” DIG South Range Jamil Ahmed, who holds the additional charge of the provincial DIG training, told The News on Sunday.
“Following the procedure, mock combat and post-blast mock exercises will be conducted at the police station level and also at training centres.”
The DIG said many cops working in the South Range were unaware as to how they should handle the situation after a bomb blast or other terrorist attacks. He added that the procedure basically focuses on preparing officers and subordinate cops to deal with such situations.

The SOP
The official explained that in case of a terrorist attack, the police station concerned is supposed to immediately inform the Crisis Management Cell and their senior officers about it and call for backup. Besides, he added, the police stations at the entry and exit points of the city also need to be contacted so that the attackers could be prevented from escaping.
Moreover, he said, a state of emergency had to be declared at major state-run medical facilities including the Civil and Jinnah hospitals.
Ambulances, fire tenders, the bomb disposal squad and forensics teams also have to be called to the scene.
“The standard operating procedure is based on what needs to be done on the ground, like immediately started patrolling throughout the zone, set up pickets, start snap checking and search hotels and inns and sealed the area concerned,” the DIG said.
He added that there could be a break out of riots and protests following a terrorist attack and the anti-riot force also had to be present at the scene.
“To ensure that as much evidence can be collected from the crime scene as possible, the officers concerned should get in touch with the technical staff to take photos, capture videos and gather samples in coordination with the counter terrorism department and the Special Branch.”
The DIG said the procedure also included coordinating with the officials of the health department.
“The health department can declare a state of emergency, arrange blood for the people injured in the terrorist attack and also set up a control room at the hospital where the bodies and the injured are shifted,” he said.
“Police should also coordinate with services like the Edhi Foundation so that no information about the casualties is missed.”
The SOP also includes coordinating with the traffic department so that diversion routes and lifting of vehicles from the scene can be arranged following a terrorist attack.
After the SOP is issued, demonstrations will be held to review the force’s preparation.
“In these demonstrations, we will be able to find out as to what the weak points of the force are and how much progress have we made in our contingency plan,” the DIG said.
Courses at training centres
Ahmed said refresher courses had been started the police training centres that included firing at different angles. Apart from that, he added, a joint training course had been started at the Razzaqabad centre with the help of army officials.
Cops posted at different ranges of the city’s police are participating in the courses that last for four weeks at the Razzaqabad centre and two weeks at the Malir Cantonment centre.
“We have also sent our men from the rapid response force and the special security unit to the National Counter-Terrorism Center in Khariyan, Punjab for training,” Ahmed said.
The other courses at the centres include human resources, gender sensitive, minority rights and dealing with children and senior citizens.
Special courses include learning to defuse improvised explosive devices with the help of instructors from the US. Cops from Balochistan and the Railway police are also participating in this course.
The official said the Karachi police had also been equipped with bomb suits, x-ray machines and bomb destroying machines provided by the US.