Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbia)
| Special Anti-Terrorist Unit | |
|---|---|
| Специјална антитерористичка јединица | |
 Emblem of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit | |
| Active | 1978 – present |
| Country | Serbia |
| Agency | Police of Serbia |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Role | Law enforcement Counter-terrorism Hostage rescue |
| Operations jurisdiction | National |
| Headquarters | Batajnica |
| Structure | |
| Members | ~300[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Spasoje Vulević |
| Notables | |
| Anniversaries | 18 December |
The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbian: Специјална антитерористичка јединица, romanized: Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica, abbr. САЈ / SAJ), is an elite tactical unit of the Serbian Police.[2][3][4]
History
[edit]The history of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit dates back to 18 December 1978 and the establishment of the Militia Unit for Special Actions (Jedinica Milicije za specijalna dejstva).[3] The first base for the Milicija unit was at the militia station in New Belgrade.[3] Its first commander was Miloš Bujenović.[3] In 1983, the unit moved to Belgrade Airport in Surčin.[3]
In 1991, the unit renamed as the Anti-Terrorism Unit (Antiteroristička jedinica).[3] In 1992, during the reorganization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Militia, the Anti-Terrorism Unit was placed under the Directorate of Public Security of the reorganized ministry.[3] That same year, command was formed in Belgrade, with established branches in Novi Sad and Priština. Zoran Simović was the head of the then Belgrade unit, Novi Sad branch-unit was led by Branko Jurčić, and Priština branch-unit by Radoslav Stalević. At that period, the unit moved to the base in Batajnica, in which it has been ever since.[5]
In 1994, the unit was renamed as the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, which it bears to the current day.[3] During the Kosovo War, the unit operated on the suppression of militants of the KLA. During these operations, sixteen members of the unit died in combat.[6]
In 2015, the Counter-Terrorist Unit (established in 2003) was merged into the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.[7][8]
Missions
[edit]Among the main missions of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit are:
- Counter-terrorism
- Hostage recovery situations
- Assistance to other police departments fighting organized crime (arrest of high-profile criminals)
- Arrest of dangerous deranged persons
- Close protection of VIP
Structure
[edit]The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit is organized in four "teams" (timovi), platoon-size units, each with their own specializations.
- Team A and Team B
The "first fist" is represented by that air assault operations, anti-hijacking, anti-irregular forces, breaking into barred objects, control and protect criminals while they are on trial, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, operating in difficult to access terrains, providing security to locations at high-risk of sabotage or being disturbed by social turmoil, serving high-risk arrest and search warrants, solve complicated hostile situations, special operations in dangerous areas, support crowd control operations during court proceedings or meetings, and VIP close protection.
- Team C
Team C include: Dog training Group, Mine-explosive Substances and Biological-Chemical Products Group, Sniper/Counter-sniper Group, and Diving and Underwater Operations Group.
- Team D
Team D provides the logistical support and include: the Construction and Testing of Arms and Ammunition Group, the Technical and Emergency Service Group, and the Medical Group.
Equipment
[edit]The following equipment is in operational use as of 2024:
Firearms
[edit]- Handgun:
- Shotgun:
- Carbine:
- Submachine gun:
- Assault rifle:
- Sniper rifle:
Vehicles
[edit]- Cars:
- Armored multipurpose vehicles:
- Armored personnel carriers:
- BOV M86 (2)
Commanders
[edit]Since its establishment the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit had six commanders:
- Col. Miloš Bujenović (1978–1984)
- Col. Radovan Stojičić "Badža" (1984–1991)
- Col. Miodrag Tepavčević (1991–1992)
- Col. Zoran Simović (1992–2000)
- Col. Živorad Trajković (2000–2002)
- Col. Milovan Glišović (2002–2005)
- Col. Spasoje Vulević (2005–present)
Traditions
[edit]Anniversary
[edit]The anniversary of the unit is celebrated on 18 December, in memory of the day in 1978 when the unit was established.
Patron saint
[edit]The unit's slava or its saint's feast day is Saint Michael the Archangel (Aranđelovdan).
Motto
[edit]Motto of the Brigade is: "One who dares - can, one who knows no fear - succeed!" (Ko sme, taj može, ko ne zna za strah, taj ide napred!). Author of the motto is Vojvoda Živojin Mišić, Serbian field marshal in the World War I.
In popular culture
[edit]The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit appears in a video games Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 video game) and Call of Duty: Mobile.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Novi odred Žandarmerije sličan JSO". b92.net (in Serbian). 24 January 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica". Ministry of Interior (in Serbian). Retrieved 13 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Istorijat - Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica". Archive - Ministry of Interior (in Serbian). 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAU)". Specijalne-jedinice.com. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
- ^ "Naša elita sa tradicijom". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ "Stefanović: SAJ će biti najbolja". b92.net (in Serbian). Tanjug. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "САЈ и ПТЈ се спајају у јединицу суперспецијалаца". Dnevnik (in Serbian). 7 February 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
- ^ "Нова специјална јединица у полицији". Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
External links
[edit]
- Videos
- "САЈ - Страх и трепет". MUP Republike Srbije (at YouTube). 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- "S.A.J." Exploziv (at YouTube). September 17, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- Other