The head of Counter Terrorism Policing London’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit has shared details of his career handling explosive threats in a new podcast episode, offering insight into both military and domestic operations, Counter Terrorism Policing said.
The episode, part of the Inside Counter Terrorism Policing series, features “Tom”, a former British Army explosives specialist who completed a 24-year military career before moving into policing. His service included deployments in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, followed by involvement in responses to incidents such as the Parsons Green and Fishmongers’ Hall attacks.
In the podcast, Tom describes the realities of bomb disposal in operational environments, including scenarios not covered in formal training. “Absolutely nothing in our training ever covered a bomb that is burning,” he said, highlighting the unpredictability of improvised explosive devices.
Reflecting on his experience, he characterised bomb disposal as “routine” while acknowledging the inherent risks involved, noting the potentially fatal consequences associated with each device. The episode also addresses the psychological pressures associated with the role and exposure to high-risk incidents.
The podcast series aims to provide insight into the work of Counter Terrorism Policing, featuring first-hand accounts from personnel across a range of roles. Upcoming episodes will cover areas including online intelligence, offender management and national security response.
A new episode will be available on Acast, Spotify and Apple every Thursday. They are:
- Clara (out now): From hostage negotiator to hostile environments
- Tom (out now): from diffusing bombs in warzones to keeping the streets of London safe
- Jenna (out on 26 March): what it’s like working with convicted terrorists in the community
- Grace (out on 2 April): Thwarting attacks through online intelligence
- Alex (out on 9 April): from city lawyer to national security incidents
You can find and listen to these, and the episodes from series 1, wherever you get your podcasts https://shows.acast.com/inside-counter-terrorism-policing/episodes
