Counter-Terrorist Unit (Serbia)

Not to be confused with Counter-terrorist Battalion (Serbia).
Counter-terrorist Unit

PTJ emblem
Active 2003 - 2016
Country  Serbia
Branch MUP
Type Special forces
Role Domestic anti-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Size Classified[1]
Garrison/HQ Lipovica
Nickname(s) PTJ
Commanders
Current commander Miloš Maćešić

The Counter-terrorist Unit (Serbian: Противтерористичка Jединица, ПTJ/Protivteroristička jedinica, PTJ) was a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian Police.

As its name states, the PTJ is oriented towards anti-terror operations as well as securing and maintaining the internal security of Serbia. Often only used in operations deemed too dangerous for other police units, it is highly trained and equipped. The PTJ's responsibilities include: resolving hostage situations, anti-terrorist operations, high profile arrests and bomb disposal. Members of the PTJ operate with extreme professionalism and devotion to their responsibilities. This has earned the PTJ great respect throughout the world as an elite special operations police unit among other such units. In 2016 the unit was merged with the SAJ

Organization

Equipment and training

PTJ Humvee

Candidates are selected from the Žandarmerija, who must undergo rigorous physical evaluations before tactical training can begin. Lieutenant Colonel Dragović, the commander, stated in 2007 that out of 150 candidates only eight were selected in that year.[2] Members of the PTJ are expected to meet and excel the criteria set before them. Trainees are exposed to varying conditions that they might find in real life operations. PTJ training centres are located at Petrovo Selo near Kula and Goč near Vrnjačka Banja.

Weapons used include:[2]

Publicly known operations

In 13 operations across eight cities in Serbia, the PTJ arrested numerous members of the so-called "Customs Mafia". They detained known organized crime leaders such as Sreten Jocić from the Netherlands; Dejan Milenković from Greece; Ridvan Rašitija from Switzerland; and extradited Abdelmajid Bouchar, (a member of "Al-Qaeda" suspected in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings), to Spain.[3]

Others:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Novi odred Žandarmerije sličan JSO" (in Serbian). B92. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Crvene beretke prošle proveru, Večernje novosti, 5 January 2007
  3. ↑ Spain seeks 3/11 suspect in Serbia, CNN, 24 August 2005
  4. ↑ Ubijen vehabija, ranjen policajac, Blic, 21 April 2007
  5. ↑ Special police kill man holding family hostage, B92, 29 March 2009
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