Beirut: British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell attended the closing ceremony for Lebanese airport security personnel who successfully completed the UK-funded Behavioural Detection Training course at Beirut International Airport.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the training took place over a three-week period, delivered in partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Security, and Internal Security Forces. It aimed to enhance airport safety for all passengers and counter threats such as terrorism, smuggling, and criminal activity. The training also included 18 female officers from General Security and Internal Security Forces.
British Ambassador Hamish Cowell expressed support for Lebanon’s efforts to strengthen airport security, highlighting the importance of the skills acquired during the training. These skills are expected to ensure the safety of passengers, including an increasing number of British tourists, business travelers, and British-Lebanese families. Cowell commended the dedication of Lebanese security officers, noting that the training has already shown results, with techniques reportedly used in a recent arrest related to a shooting incident.
The UK continues its collaboration with Lebanon to promote stability and security across key infrastructure ports of access. Since its inception in 2018, the UK-funded Behavioural Detection Training programme has equipped airport security teams with tactical skills to identify and disrupt potential terrorist threats. This initiative builds on the UK’s longstanding support to Lebanon’s border and airport security institutions, thereby strengthening the capabilities of Lebanese immigration and security personnel in detecting terrorist activity at border crossings.