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Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbia)

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The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbian: Специјална антитерористичка јединица, romanized: Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica, abbr. САЈ / SAJ), is an elite tactical unit of the Serbian Police.[2][3][4]

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

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 the Milicija unit was at the militia station in New 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 the Ministry of Internal Affairs and 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 in Novi Sad and Priština. 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 the Kosovo War, the unit operated on the suppression of militants of the KLA. During these operations, sixteen members of the unit died in combat.[6]

In 2015, the Counter-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's slava or its saint's feast day is Saint 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 is Vojvoda Živojin Mišić, Serbian field marshal in the World War I.

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The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit appears in a video games Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 video game) and Call 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. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica". Ministry of Interior (in Serbian). Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Istorijat - Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica". Archive - Ministry of Interior (in Serbian). 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAU)". Specijalne-jedinice.com. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Naša elita sa tradicijom". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Stefanović: SAJ će biti najbolja". b92.net (in Serbian). Tanjug. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  7. ^ "САЈ и ПТЈ се спајају у јединицу суперспецијалаца". Dnevnik (in Serbian). 7 February 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Нова специјална јединица у полицији". Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 26 April 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
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