Spikets
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Piketen are special police forces in different parts of Sweden. The pikets have existed since the end of the 19th century, when they were riot police.
history
The aftermath of the heavy robbery and hostage-taking in Stockholm resulted in the reorganization of the Piketen in 1973. On August 23, 1973, the prisoner Jan Erik Olsson stormed the financial institution "Kreditbanken" on the lively Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm and took four bank employees hostage. A police officer was injured in a gun battle with Olsson. The bank was besieged for five days. By taking hostages, Olsson managed to free the criminal Clark Olofsson who was in custody. This came to Olsson in the bank. Olsson asked for three million crowns (around 300,000 euros today) and also weapons, helmets, bullet-resistant vests and a car.
On August 28, 1973, the police finally managed to incapacitate the perpetrators by injecting anesthetic gas and storm the bank. Against the background of this event and the terrorist attack by the RAF on the German embassy in Stockholm , the pikets were reorganized.
tasks
The Piketeks are requested by the local police for special situations and operations with a medium or high degree of danger. They are also called to risky arrests, raids or for personal protection tasks. The group has been protecting all embassies in Stockholm since 1996.
organization
A total of 200 officers are on duty in three special units in Stockholm, Västra Götaland / Göteborg and Skåne / Malmö. They also operate in the rest of the country.
The Piketeks cooperate with the forces of Nationella Insatsstyrkan (NI), the national special forces based in Stockholm.
Furnishing
In addition to a range of means of transport (vehicles, boats and helicopters), the pikets can use a range of weapons. The main weapons are the Heckler and Koch MP5 , HK G36C and the SIG Sauer P226 pistol .