Police Counter Attack Team

The Police Counter Attack Teams (Turkish: Polis Karşı Atak Timleri) or simply CAT is one of the special forces unit of the General Directorate of Security. Unlike the Police Special Operations Department (PÖH), the unit specializes in executive protection.

Polis Karşı Atak Timleri Police Counter Attack Teams
Active	1970s–present
Country	Turkey
Branch	General Directorate of Security
Type	Police tactical unit
Role	Close protection, counter-terrorism and law enforcement

Role

These teams, established in the 1970s, reinforce the other special forces in the event of a major terrorist incident.^[1]

The nature of the team was similar to the SWAT teams of North America, but with greater emphasis on counter-terrorism (CT) training and capability, reportedly to include operations involving hijacked aircraft.

Now, the team changes its role to a close protection unit, which is currently assigned to the protection to the Turkish Prime Minister and President.^[2]

Involvement in attack on protestors

On May 16, 2017 fifteen members of the Police Counter Attack Teams were involved in an attack on protestors in Washington, DC and charged with assault by the US Department of Justice. The charges were later dropped.

Equipment

Model	Origin	Type	References
SIG Sauer P226	West Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	[3]
Heckler & Koch MP5		Submachine gun	[4]
FN P90	Belgium		[3]
IMI Micro Uzi	Israel		[5]
MKE MPT	Turkey	Assault rifle	[6]
SIG SG 556	Switzerland
Heckler & Koch HK416	Germany		[7]
M4 carbine	United States		[8]
SIG Sauer SIG516	Turkey		[9]