Description
Book SynopsisThe Munich Olympics massacre in 1972 was a shock awakening to the public. In the decades since, European countries have faced a wide range of threats from Palestinian and home-grown terrorists, to the more recent worldwide jihadists. The threats they pose are widespread from aircraft hijacking and political assassinations to urban warfare against security forces, and murderous attacks on civilian crowd targets, forcing governments have had to invest ever-greater efforts in countering these threats.
This book traces the evolution of police (and associated military) counter-terrorist forces across Europe over the past 45 years. Using specially commissioned artwork and contemporary photographs, it details their organization, missions, specialist equipment, and their growing cross-border cooperation.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Munich 1972, and after/The evolving threats: Palestinian, extreme leftist (e.g. Red Army Faction), home-grown separatist (ETA, IRA), early jihadist, al Qaeda and its franchises, ISIS/The responses: Germany (GSG9, regional SEKs, KSK) – France (GIGN, RAID, BRI and military CT units) – Britain: police (SCO19, CT-SFO, etc); military (SAS, SBS CT elements ) – Spain and Italy (GOE; NOCS, GIS) – Other NATO and European units (Polish BOA-KGP and GROM; Belgian DSU 'Diane'; Irish Garda ERU and Army Ranger Wing; Austrian EKO Cobra; Danish AKSA; Dutch UIM (BBNE); Norwegian ERU)/The ATLAS network – international collaboration/Weapons, equipment and vehicles/Other specialist technologies
