“In the late 70’s there were bombings in London in Oxford Street and elsewhere and it was a serious business. Everyone was aware of the fact that bombs might go off…but I think people got on with their lives and their jobs. But I remember where I was when 9/11 happened. I was at Scotland Yard and someone came rushing in…and the whole event unfolded before our eyes. We quickly became aware we were dealing with a terrorist group very different to the IRA. Al Qaeda didn’t want to negotiate.”

Nick shares his experiences from leading international terrorism operations going back decades from the IRA bombings in London to the 9/11 attack heralding the prominence of Al Qaeda.

Before joining Charles Sturt University as Head of School of the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security, Nick represented the UK Association of Chief Police Officers - Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee (ACPO-TAM) and all the UK police forces as the Counter Terrorism and Extremism Liaison Officer (CTELO) at the British High Commission in Canberra. Nick covered Australasia and had a 'watching brief' on the Asia and the Pacific region.

Prior to this posting Nick was in charge of International Counter Terrorism in Special Branch at New Scotland Yard.

Episode recorded: 1 May 2019

Host: Wes Ward, Charles Sturt Media

Production: Adam Thompson, 2MCE

Due to our many regional locations, Charles Sturt’s podcast recordings range from phone, to studio, to in-person recordings, leading to some natural variance in recording sound.

CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of terrorism and extremist ideology and events.