Atlas network

The Atlas-Verbund or also the Atlas-Gruppe brings together the 38 European special police units of the EU member states and associated states in the form of an association . The informal cooperation structure was established in 2002, but its roots go back to 1996. The aim of the Atlas network is to improve cooperation between special police forces within Europe. The chairman of the Atlas Group for had since October 2012 Olaf Lindner and since the end of 2014 Jerome Fuchs, the head of agency of the GSG 9 .

meaning

Atlas is not an abbreviation, but refers to the titan of the same name from Greek mythology, who carries the sky on his shoulders.

construction

As early as 1996, the Council of the European Union decided to create a counter-terrorism competence network to facilitate cooperation between the member states in this area. This is considered to be the "hour of birth" of the Atlas cooperation. However, it was not until the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 that the operational development work began. In October 2001 the commanders of the police special forces met for the first time after "9/11".

The main development work was done by the GSG 9 of the Federal Police (Germany), the EKO Cobra (Austria), the GIGN (France), the DSU (Belgium) and the DSI (Netherlands).

organization

The Atlas network is an informal cooperation structure, but the cooperation has meanwhile been expanded. Common standards for training, equipment and operational procedures are developed or further developed. Joint exercises are one focus. A joint multinational deployment of several special police units to cope with a major terrorist situation is currently considered unlikely due to the political and legal sensitivity. Nevertheless there are initiatives. In December 2006 Austria presented a draft framework agreement for joint special operations. In October 2018 Support Office when was European Counterterrorism Center (ECTC) of Europol was set up to improve cooperation between Europol and the special forces represented in the Altas composite and support the composite.

Division of labor

The GSG 9 of the German Federal Police is responsible for the development of tactics and techniques in the maritime operational environment. In addition, the GIGN develop tactics and techniques for use on aircraft, the RAID for use on public transport and the EKO Cobra from Austria for use in buildings. In addition to these working groups, it was decided to set up expert groups to support states affected by a terrorist attack.

Members

Due to the federal structures of some member states and the existence of police and military guards, some states are represented with several units in the Atlas network. The Atlas network includes 36 units from the 27 EU member states and associated states:

AKS - The Special Operations and Response Team AKTIONSSTYRKEN ( Denmark )
Aras - Lithuanian Police Anti-Terrorist Operations Unit Lithuania
ATU Switzerland
BOA - Biuro Operacji Antyterrorystycznych ( Poland )
BSIJ - Brigada Speciala de Interventie a Jandarmeriei ( Romania )
CGSU Commissariat-General Special Units ( Belgium )
CO19 - Specialist Firearms Command ( UK )
DSI - Service Speciale Interventies ( Netherlands )
EAO ( Cyprus )
EKO Cobra - Task Force COBRA ( Austria )
EKAM - Eidiki Katastaltiki Antitromokratiki Monada ( Greece )
ERU - Garda Emergency Response Unit ( Ireland )
GEO - Grupo Especial de Operaciones ( Spain )
GIGN - Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale ( France )
GIS - Gruppo di Intervento Speciale ( Italy )
GNR GIOE Grupo de Operações Especiais ( Portugal )
GOE - Grupo de Operações Especiais (Portugal)
GSG 9 of the Federal Police ( Germany )
K-KOMANDO POLICE AND BORDER GUARD BOARD CENTRAL CRIMINAL POLICE ( Estonia )
KARHU - Helsingin poliisilaitos Valmiusyksikkö ( Finland )
Lynx Commando - Presidium of the Police Force ( Slovakia )
NI - Nationella Insatsstyrkan ( Sweden )
NOCS - Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza ( Italy )
OMEGA - Counterterrorism Group ( Latvia )
PSNI - HMSU - Police Service of Northern Ireland Headquarters Mobile Support Unit (Northern Ireland)
RAID - Research Assistance Intervention Dissuasion (France)
Red Panther - POLICIJA Specialna Enota ( Slovenia )
SAG - Special Assignments Group ( Malta )
SEK BW - Special Operations Command Baden-Württemberg (representing the SEKs of the German state police )
SIAS - Serviciul Independent de Interventii si Actiuni Speciale Romania
SUCT - Specialized Unit for Combating ( Bulgaria )
TEK / CTC - Counter Terrorism Center Hungary ( Hungary )
UEI - Unidad Especial de Intervención ( Spain )
USP - Police Lëtzebuerg - Unité Spéciale de la Police ( Luxembourg )
URNA - Útvar rychlého nasazení Policie MR ( Czech Republic )

Furthermore cooperate with the Atlas network:

Beredskapstroppen (Delta) , ( Norway )
Enzian ( Switzerland , KaPo Bern)
GIGG (Switzerland, KaPo Geneva)
LEU (Switzerland, KaPo Thurgau)
Scorpio (Switzerland, StaPo Zurich)

Exercises

Operation Octopus 2007

Operation Octopus was a large-scale multinational maritime exercise in which a total of 300 police officers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Spain participated in September 2007. The exercise took place in the port of Ostend and simulated the capture of a hijacked ferry. The necessary boats and helicopters came from the stocks of the police authorities involved.

Common Challenge 2013

The exercise was based on a simulated hostage situation taking place simultaneously at different crime scenes across Europe. Various scenarios were played out in the individual participating countries:

Ferry - Sweden
Container ship - Lithuania
Coal Power Plant - Ireland
Public Transport / Bus - Spain
Public transport / train - Belgium
Buildings - Italy
Building - Austria
Building - Slovenia
Public transport / bus - Romania

The GSG 9 participated with a total of more than 30 officers in the mission to rescue and free hostages in Austria.

literature

Sören Sünkler: The Sons of the Titans , Caliber Edition 2/2008, pp. 16–22
Weisswange, Jan-Phillipp: Together against terrorism , Strategy & Technology 6/2007, pp. 66–67

Individual evidence

^ Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (English, press release).
↑ Large-scale exercise by European special forces in cooperation with ATLAS and Europol. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (author code: er).
↑ Europe's supercops practice the terror emergency. In the fight against terrorists and organized criminals, the police should be more effective. 30 European countries are participating. October 10, 2018, accessed October 12, 2018 .
↑ Major exercise for Europe's special police forces. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (author code: fal).
↑ Small inquiry - Printed matter 17/13607 -. (pdf) German Bundestag, January 6, 2013, pp. 6ff , accessed on August 18, 2016 .
↑ http://www.usp.lu

[1] Closer international cooperation to fight hostage-taking, kidnapping and terrorism. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (English, press release).

[2] Large-scale exercise by European special forces in cooperation with ATLAS and Europol. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (author code: er).

[3] Europe's supercops practice the terror emergency. In the fight against terrorists and organized criminals, the police should be more effective. 30 European countries are participating. October 10, 2018, accessed October 12, 2018 .

[4] Major exercise for Europe's special police forces. October 10, 2018, accessed on October 12, 2018 (author code: fal).

[5] Small inquiry - Printed matter 17/13607 -. (pdf) German Bundestag, January 6, 2013, pp. 6ff , accessed on August 18, 2016 .

[6] ttp://www.usp.lu