The Netherlands is to lead a new NATO project in which Denmark and the United States will also participate. Eight other members of the alliance have pledged to join soon.

The project will focus on biometrics as a means to track down the individuals and organisations who use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to carry out attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan.

At the ongoing NATO summit in Chicago, Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen said that the Netherlands has gained valuable experience in biometrics in Afghanistan. Biometric data such as fingerprints left behind on explosives can help investigators track down the bomb makers.
The Netherlands lost 12 soldiers as the result of IED attacks.

(gsh)

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