NCJ Number
180737
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 11 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 81-83
Date Published
November 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the development and deployment of a new type of special police unit to be used in the tactical fight against terrorists operating in Europe.
Abstract
Following the terrorist attack on the Israeli team during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, and the failure of police to rescue the hostages, leading police and law enforcement officers throughout Europe were given the task of studying the modus-operandi of the various terrorist groups and developing the best tactical and operational methods to confront them. This led to the creation of a special police unit characterized by flexible command and structure to permit rapid reaction to quickly changing situation; special tactical training compatible with the various terrorist scenarios; skillful and professional operators with proper personal traits; and the use of special weapon systems and equipment designed specifically for the new task. Specialized tactical police intervention and response units were created first in Germany and France and later, based on their operational experience, in other parts of Europe. This article profiles the various law enforcement organizations in which the majority of the new police units were established. The use of the units in various terrorist incidents is also profiled, including the first major deployment of a unit in October 1977 at the Mogadishu airport in Somalia.