Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Republika Srpska)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Special Anti-Terrorist Unit
Patch of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit
Patch of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit
AbbreviationSAJ (САЈ)
MottoМи немамо право на грешку!
"We are not entitled to make a mistake!"
Agency overview
Formed4 April 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04-04)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionRepublika Srpska
Governing bodyMinistry of Interior (Republika Srpska)
Operational structure
HeadquartersTraining Center of the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, Zalužani
Agency executive
  • Goran Balaban, Commander
Notables
Award
  • Petar Mrkonjić Medal
Members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit during a Republic Day parade in Banja Luka, 2019

The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska (Serbian: Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica Ministarstva unutrašnjih poslova Republike Srpske; SAJ, Serbian Cyrillic: Специјална антитерористичка јединица Министарства унутрашњих послова Републике Српске; САЈ) is a special police and security force unit of the Police of Republika Srpska, one of two autonomous entities that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History[edit]

Development of unit it is possible to split into three stages: first stage (1992–1995), second stage (1995–2001) and third stage (2001–today).
Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Ministry of Republika Srpska was founded on April 4, 1992 as Special Police Brigade (Специјална бригада полиције). During the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina it was a unit that fought in many battles. In that time, brigades command was in Janja near Bijeljina and unit was divided on nine battalion-sized detachments :

Every detachment was capable to be independent on battle field because of its organisation. Detachment had three special infantry platoons, armored-mechanized platoon, mortar, logistic and communication platoon.[1] The brigade numbered around 1,400 fighters, of whom 144 were killed and about 400 wounded.[2] Second development stage is considered for peace time when command was in Janja and when brigade was renamed into Specialized Police Service (Служба специјализоване полиције). Two detachments were disbanded (Prijedor and Ilidža) and Trebinje and Foča detachments were integrated into Tjentište base. Later all detachments except Janja and Banja Luka were disbanded and in Banja Luka was formed Anti-Terrorist Team. Third stage is stage in whom units command was dislocated in Rakovačke Bare in Banja Luka. Specialized Police Service was organized on three teams: Anti-Terrorist, Specialized and Mechanized. On 2004 service changed name into Special Police Unit (Специјална јединица полиције or СЈП) and next year base was moved in central base "Sarica" in Trn near Banja Luka. In 2016, the unit assumed its current name and its headquarters were moved to Zalužani.

Commandeer name Time of commandment
Milenko Karišik 1992–1993
Goran Sarić 1993–1997
Dušan Jević 1997–1999
Dragan Lukač 1999–2004
Ranko Vuković 2004–2006
Predrag Krajnović 2006–2015
Dragan Ribić 2015–2018
Goran Balaban 2018–

Unit today[edit]

Today SAU is most elite unit of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska and cooperates with other special units in region and Europe, like for example Serbian SAJ, PTJ and Gendarmery and Slovene SEP, French GIGN German GSG 9, Italian GIS.
Main duties of unit are:

  • organizing and completing of most complex security and counter terrorism tasks
  • establishing of public order and peace in most difficult and risk situations
  • solving high risk situations

Organization[edit]

Unit has its own command that is inferior to Director of Police and superior to seven teams: "A" Team (responsible for most difficult tasks), "B" Team, "C" Team, "D" Team, Special Preparation and Logistic Support Team (Тим за специјалну и логистичку подршку), Specialized Team (Специјализовани тим) and Operative Support Team (Тим за оперативну подршку).[3][4]

Equipment[edit]

Armament[edit]

Name Origin Type Notes
CZ99[5] Yugoslavia/Serbia Semi-automatic pistol used only for training [5]
Glock-17[5] Austria Semi-automatic pistol main unit armament [5]
Glock-19[5] Austria Semi-automatic pistol
CZ 85[5] Czechoslovakia Semi-automatic pistol
CZ Scorpion Evo 3[5] Czechoslovakia Submachine gun
HK MP5[5] Germany Submachine gun Used A5 and SD-3 models [5]
Zastava M-84A "Škorpion"[5] Yugoslavia Submachine gun
Brügger & Thomet APC9[5] Switzerland Submachine gun
Zastava M-70[5] Yugoslavia Assault rifle Used model AB1 and AB2 [5]
Zastava M21[5] Serbia and Montenegro Assault rifle Used model SBS [5]
FN SCAR[6] Belgium Assault rifle
Zastava M76[5] Yugoslavia Sniper rifle
Zastava M91[5] Serbia and Montenegro Sniper rifle
Steyr Tactical Elite[5] Austria Sniper rifle
Steyr SSG 04[5] Austria Sniper rifle Used A1 model
M93 "Crna strela"[5] Yugoslavia Sniper rifle
Zastava M84[5] Yugoslavia General-purpose machine gun

Vehicles[edit]

Name Origin Type Notes
VW Golf IV[5] Germany C
Mercedes-Benz Vito[5] Germany Van
Despot[7] Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Armoured personnel carrier
BOV[5] Yugoslavia/Serbia Armoured personnel carrier
SA 341[5] France Utility helicopter/Armed helicopter
Ansat[5][8] Russia Utility helicopter

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Republika Srpska, specijalne-jedinice.com
  2. ^ About Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, Ministry of Interior
  3. ^ "Organization of MoI". Ministry of Interior.
  4. ^ "About SAU". specijalne-jedinice.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica Ministarstva unutrašnjih poslova Republike Srpske". specijalne-jedinice.com.
  6. ^ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAJ_vje%C5%BEba_Dan_Policije_2019.jpg
  7. ^ "Dva "Despota" stigla u MUP RS". Alternativna televizija (in Serbian). 2019-08-02.
  8. ^ "MUP Republike Srpske predstavio helikoptere Ansat". Tango Six (in Serbian). 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-20.