Europol tests response to attacks on critical infrastructure in Belgium

Europol has carried out a large-scale security exercise across Europe, including in Belgium, to test how well countries can respond to modern threats such as attacks on critical infrastructure.

The exercise, called ‘Allies 2026’, took place from 9 to 12 February and involved 12 EU member states. Surveillance officers, special intervention units and in-flight security officers, often known as air marshals, took part.

The aim was to improve cross-border cooperation. As scenarios unfolded and suspects moved between countries, teams had to pass on information quickly and take over operations from one another. This allowed Europol to assess coordination and communication between national authorities.

Two linked operations were staged during the exercise.

One, code-named ‘Operation Cargill’, began in Belgium. It focused on suspects planning coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure, including power stations, an oil port and a wind farm. The suspects were tracked across several countries, including Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Romania, before being arrested. The scenario tested how well such sites are protected and how effectively countries can work together to prevent attacks.

The second operation, ‘Operation Shamrock’, started in Ireland and targeted a fictional international drugs network. Suspects were followed from Ireland to the Netherlands and France, where they were said to be buying drugs using cryptocurrency. They were eventually arrested after returning to Ireland.

The exercise was coordinated from Europol’s headquarters in The Hague. Officials said the operation helped strengthen cooperation, improve readiness and test new communication technology designed to support real-time information sharing between countries.

The participating countries were Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia.

^{Illustration © JORGE GUERRERO / AFP}