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Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbia)

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Special Anti-Terrorist Unit
Специјална антитерористичка јединица
Emblem
Emblem of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit
Active1978 – present
CountrySerbia
AgencyPolice of Serbia
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleLaw enforcement
Counter-terrorism
Hostage rescue
Operations jurisdictionNational
HeadquartersBatajnica
Structure
Members~300[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Spasoje Vulević
Notables
Anniversaries18 December

TheSpecial Anti-Terrorist Unit(Serbian:Специјална антитерористичка јединица,romanized:Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica,abbr. САЈ /SAJ), is an elitetactical unitof theSerbian Police.[2][3][4]

History

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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 theMilicijaunit was at the militia station inNew 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 theMinistry of Internal Affairsand 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 inNovi SadandPriština.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 theKosovo War,the unit operated on the suppression of militants of theKLA.During these operations, sixteen members of the unit died in combat.[6]

In 2015, theCounter-Terrorist Unit(established in 2003) was merged into the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.[7][8]

Missions

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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

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The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit is organized in four "teams"(timovi), platoon-size units, each with their own specializations.

Team A and Team B
Echelon march of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit members

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

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The following equipment is in operational use as of 2024:

BOV M16 Miloš armored vehicle
BOV M15 armored personnel carrier

Firearms

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Vehicles

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Commanders

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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

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Anniversary

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The anniversary of the unit is celebrated on 18 December, in memory of the day in 1978 when the unit was established.

Patron saint

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The unit'sslavaor its saint'sfeast dayisSaint Michael the Archangel(Aranđelovdan).

Motto

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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 isVojvodaŽivojin Mišić,Serbian field marshal in the World War I.

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The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit appears in a video gamesCall of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 video game)andCall of Duty: Mobile.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Novi odred Žandarmerije sličan JSO".b92.net(in Serbian). 24 January 2012.Retrieved4 December2017.
  2. ^"Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica".Ministry of Interior(in Serbian).Retrieved13 October2019.
  3. ^abcdefgh"Istorijat - Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica".Archive - Ministry of Interior(in Serbian). 2009.Retrieved14 October2019.
  4. ^"Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAU)".Specijalne-jedinice.Retrieved13 October2019.
  5. ^"Naša elita sa tradicijom".Retrieved15 November2014.
  6. ^"Stefanović: SAJ će biti najbolja".b92.net(in Serbian). Tanjug. 18 December 2018.Retrieved18 December2018.
  7. ^"САЈ и ПТЈ се спајају у јединицу суперспецијалаца".Dnevnik(in Serbian). 7 February 2016.Retrieved13 October2019.
  8. ^"Нова специјална јединица у полицији".Radio Television of Serbia(in Serbian). 26 April 2015.Retrieved13 October2019.
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