Counter-Terrorist Unit (Serbia)
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The Counter-Terrorist Unit (Serbian: Противтерористичка јединица / Protivteroristička jedinica, abbr. ПTJ / PTJ) was a police tactical unit of the Serbian Police.[1][4] The PTJ was initially established within the Gendarmery of the Police and in April 2007 was made an independent unit within the Police Directorate of the Police.[1]
Counter-Terrorist Unit Противтерористичка јединица Protivteroristička jedinica | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | PTJ |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 7 March 2003[1] |
Preceding agency | |
Dissolved | 2016[2] |
Superseding agency | SAJ |
Employees | 215 (2012)[3] |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Serbia |
Legal jurisdiction | Domestic anti-terrorism and law enforcement |
Governing body | Ministry of Internal Affairs (Serbia) |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Lipovica |
As its name states, the PTJ was 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 was highly trained and equipped. The PTJ's responsibilities included: 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 the great respect throughout the world as an elite special operations police unit among other such units. In 2016, the unit was disbanded and most of its members were incorporated into the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ).[2]