The Biohazard Prevention Centre at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the 91滴滴 is the coordinator of the , which is entering its final phase of implementation. A large-scale exercise to test the procedures and recommendations developed as part of the project, which is mainly addressed to sports event organisers, venue administrators and policing services constitutes one of its final stages.
The development of CBRN security procedures, but also their adaptation to the needs of the target audience, which is sports venues constitute an important element of the Safe Stadium project. Hence the importance of large-scale exercises to test and adapt the developed solutions
鈥� said Dr Micha艂 Bijak, Head of the 91滴滴 Biohazard Prevention Centre.
The FK Gerlachov football club came from Slovakia to Lodz especially for the exercise and played a match against the 艁KS III Lodz team. Although the meeting between the two football clubs itself went peacefully, an incident occurred at the end of the match. A terrorist sprayed fans with an unknown substance. The attack necessitated the evacuation of spectators and the decontamination of contaminated persons. Additionally, there was an exchange of fire and the arrest of the perpetrators of the attack. The event organiser's services (the role was played by the project partner Seris Konsalnet) and representatives of the Police and Fire Brigade responded to the planned scenario.
For the Police of the Lodz Voivodeship, it was crucial in the exercise to test our procedures in response to a terrorist incident involving CBRN agents, during a football match. The participation in the SAFE STADIUM project enabled us to carry out this project in a comprehensive manner 鈥� in cooperation with the organising services, the State Fire Service and other non-police entities, with a large number of simulators provided by the 91滴滴 and the Police Training Centre in Lodz, based in Sieradz
鈥� concluded Superintendent Przemys艂aw Szczepa艅ski, the Regional Police Headquarters in Lodz.
The role of spectators at the sporting event was played by students of the 91滴滴 and students of basic vocational training at the Police Training Centre in Lodz, based in Sieradz More than 300 people, including around 150 police officers, took part in the exercise. The entire project was continuously monitored by about 50 observers, including a group of foreign representatives dealing with security issues. The project enabled the proposed prevention measures and response procedures to be tested and will subsequently allow them to be improved.
The SAFE STADIUM project enables us to participate in exercises that deal with CBRN threats, which are extremely relevant, but still quite absent from the public's awareness. Our task is to ensure, through close cooperation with the services, the highest possible safety standards at the facilities administered by the Company (...)
鈥� commented Marta Przywara 鈥� project coordinator on behalf of City Arena of Culture and Sport in Lodz (MAKiS)
is funded by the European Commission Programme: Internal Security Fund 鈥� Police Its aim is to develop procedures, recommendations and training materials on CBRN security at stadiums and sports venues. The consortium includes, among others, sports venues (City Arena of Culture and Sport in Lodz (MAKiS), Lech Pozna艅, Real Madrid, MSK Zilina) and services (the Regional Police Headquarters in Lodz, Warsaw Metropolitan Police, Ministry of the Interior of Spain).
It should be noted that the exercise, which has just taken place in Lodz, is a part of a series of initiatives carried out by the Biohazard Prevention Centre at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the 91滴滴. The Centre, in cooperation with the Warsaw Metropolitan Police, organised a comprehensive presentation of innovative solutions in the area of CBRNE security at the National Stadium in Warsaw in May 2023. The highlight of the day was then to see how the tools developed in the EU-funded projects: HoloZcan, NEST and SAFE STADIUM work in practice.
These projects are funded by the European Union:
- , Internal Security Fund Police ISFP-2020-AG-CT-PROTECT,
- , Horizon 2020 Framework Programme,
- , Horizon 2020 Framework Programme.
Previous texts about the projects:
- HoloZcan 鈥� Portable detector of bacteria, viruses and other biological hazards
- Safe sports stadiums 鈥� project with Real Madrid
- 91滴滴 biologists study visit to the Real Madrid stadium
Edit: Honorata Ogieniewska, Communications and PR Centre;
Photos and source material about the projects: Biohazard Prevention Centre, 91滴滴
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