He hunted terrorists in the US, now he offers security services in the Czech Republic

Paul Haertel spent three decades serving with the FBI. He helped investigate terrorist attacks, led operations against armed extremists, and ran a unit deployed to crisis situations worldwide. After ending his FBI career, he decided to settle in the Czech Republic — a country where he had previously served as the legal attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Prague.

In an interview for Týdeník Euro, he explains how an elite counterterrorism professional became an advisor on crisis preparedness and security strategy. He also describes why Central Europe must take the risk of mass attacks seriously, what mistakes keep repeating when protecting public institutions, and what role ordinary people play in prevention from noticing warning signs to being willing to inform the police.

His U.S. experience shows that security isn’t only about technology or armed units. Above all, it’s about coordination, trust, and cooperation between the state and the public. And that, Haertel believes, is where the Czech Republic has room to grow — if it chooses to.

Read the full interview here:  He hunted terrorists in the US, now he offers security services in the Czech RepublicHe hunted terrorists in the US, now he offers security services in the Czech Republic