Credit: Grand Ducal Police

On Thursday 17 September 2026, the Grand Ducal Police reported on its participation in the international seminar dedicated to dogs trained to detect fire accelerants.

Since 2011, the K9 Dog Unit of the Grand Ducal Police has had two dogs specially trained to detect these products. These dogs were trained at the Diensthundeausbildungsstelle in Enkenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate. At the time, this specialisation was still relatively new in Luxembourg. In order to promote the exchange of experience, harmonise working methods and maintain a high level of training, joint meetings were established under the coordination of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt, BKA). The Grand Ducal Police has participated in these meetings since 2011.

The 2026 seminar, hosted by the K9 Dog Unit of the Grand Ducal Police, took place from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 September in Brouch and welcomed around 40 participants. The programme included practical exercises in a stone quarry, during which the dog-handler teams were confronted with scenarios designed to be as realistic as possible. Other workshops focused more specifically on the initial and continuing training of the dogs and their handlers. The programme was also complemented by theoretical training sessions.

Over the years, these meetings have taken on an increasingly international dimension and have been held in Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, among other countries. During the 2026 edition, which took place in Brouch, Luxembourg, dog handlers from ten German federal states, as well as from Switzerland, Slovenia and Luxembourg, participated in the seminar. Fire investigation specialists from the Luxembourg Judicial Police, specifically from the Support Department – Technical Police Section – Fire Investigation Unit, as well as specialists from the German BKA, were also present to provide technical expertise and contribute to the final analysis of the various exercises.

This international seminar was organised under the direction of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and co-financed by the European Union.

Credit: Grand Ducal Police