PARIS (AP) — The vice president of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police, Juergen Stock, has been elected to take over the operational helm of Interpol, effective immediately.

The General Assembly of the international police organization unanimously elected Stock, 55, Friday at its meeting in Monaco. He replaces Ronald K. Noble, an American who served as secretary general of Interpol for 14 years. The executive committee had picked Stock in June, one of six candidates from six countries.

Stock said Interpol, which is based in Lyon, France, is a key player in today’s world, where challenges range from geopolitical conflicts to health risks, terrorism and cybercrime, and “cannot be overcome by national states alone.”

Stock has been vice president of Germany’s criminal police, known as the BKA, since 2004.

The secretary general oversees police cooperation.

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