Grupo Especial de Operaciones
The Grupo Especial de Operaciones ( GEO ) is the special unit of the Spanish police for counter-terrorism and hostage rescue . She is stationed in Guadalajara .
assignment
The unit specializes in countering terrorist threats adequately with police means. She is specially trained for hostage situations . Often, however, it is also used in the fight against organized crime and in personal protection for special dignitaries.
organization
GEO is divided into the emergency train and the support train. The deployment train is divided into three deployment groups, the sub-groups for training and special operations as well as technology and research. Each of these sub-groups comprises two teams, each consisting of two precision shooters , a technician, a diver and an expert in special systems.
The subgroup for training and special missions is responsible for the selection of applicants, the training and further education of members of the GEO and friendly special units. In addition, there are the incurred missions.
The subgroup for technology and research is responsible for the development and further development of operational tactics and techniques, the testing of new equipment, the operational evaluation and the analysis of possible targets of terrorist or criminal organizations.
equipment
The equipment of the GEO police includes a. Safariland holsters , Bollé Commando goggles , AN / AVS9 night vision devices and Surefire lamps.
In the armory of the GEO are u. a.
- Heckler & Koch 33 SG1
- Heckler & Koch G3 SG1
- Heckler & Koch G41 TGS
- Heckler & Koch MP5 A2 / A3 / A5 / SD / PT
- Heckler & Koch MP5 K
- Heckler & Koch PSG 1
- Remington 870
- SAKO TRG-21 and TRG-41
- SAN Swiss Arms SG551 SWAT and SG552 Commando
- SIG Sauer P226
history
GEO was set up in 1978 to fight terrorism and organized crime with the support of the German GSG-9 . In 1979 GEO was presented to the Spanish press.
Officially confirmed missions (selection):
- 1984: Armed confrontation with members of the Commandos Autónomos Anticapitalistas , who were responsible for the death of a senator.
- 1988: Two units of the Exercito Guerrilleiro do Povo Galego Ceibe (EGPGC) are arrested in Orense . With that the EGPGC is practically destroyed.
- 1990: Fernando Silva Sande, leader of GRAPO, is captured by GEO in Madrid .
- 1990: Mission to evacuate the Spanish embassy as well as Spanish and other European citizens in Liberia .
- 1992: The GEO thwarted an attack by the ETA command in Tarragona on the occasion of the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona .
- 1995: GEO prevents an assassination attempt on King Juan Carlos I , which was supposed to be carried out with a silenced weapon by an ETA command in Mallorca .
European cooperation
The GEO cooperates within the framework of the ATLAS network with special police units from other European countries.
literature
- Frank B. Metzner, Joachim Friedrich: Special police forces in Europe. History - tasks - missions. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-613-02249-4 , pp. 194-198.
