The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska (, SAJ; , 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 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 : I - Pale II - Šekovići III - Trebinje IV - Bijeljina V - Doboj VI - Banja Luka VII - Prijedor VIII - Ilidža IX - Foča. 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. The brigade numbered around 1,400 fighters, of whom 144 were killed and about 400 wounded. 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
Today, the SAU is the most elite unit of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska and cooperates with other special units in region and Europe, like the 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 The Unit has its own command that is inferior to the 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).
Equipment Small arms NameOriginTypeNotes CZ99 Yugoslavia/Serbia Semi-automatic pistol Used only for training Glock-17 Austria Semi-automatic pistol Primary service pistol Glock-19 Austria Semi-automatic pistol CZ 85 Czechoslovakia Semi-automatic pistol CZ Scorpion Evo 3 Czechoslovakia Submachine gun HK MP5 Germany Submachine gun Uses the A5 and SD-3 variants Zastava M-84A "Škorpion" Yugoslavia Submachine gun Brügger & Thomet APC9 Switzerland Submachine gun Zastava M-70 Yugoslavia Assault rifle Uses the AB1 and AB2 variants Zastava M21 Serbia and Montenegro Assault rifle Uses the SBS variant FN SCAR Belgium Assault rifle Zastava M76 Yugoslavia Sniper rifle Zastava M91 Serbia and Montenegro Sniper rifle Steyr Tactical Elite Austria Sniper rifle Steyr SSG 04 Austria Sniper rifle Uses the A1 variant Zastava M93 Black Arrow Yugoslavia Sniper rifle Zastava M84 Yugoslavia General-purpose machine gun
Armoured vehicles NameOriginTypeNumberNotes Despot Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Armoured personnel carrier 12 Vihor Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina Armoured mobility vehicle 5 BOV M-86 Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia Armoured personnel carrier 4
Utility vehicles NameOriginTypeNotes VW Golf IV Germany C Mercedes-Benz Vito Germany Van
Aircraft NameOriginTypeNumberNotes Aérospatiale Gazelle France Utility helicopter 1 SA-341H Kazan Ansat Russia Utility helicopter 3
See also Police of Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior (Republika Srpska)
References