Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Republika Srpska)


Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska is special police unit of Police of Republika Srpska.

History

Development of unit it is possible to split into three stages: first stage, second stage and third stage.
Special Anti-Terrorist Unit of Ministry of Republika Srpska was founded on April 4, 1992 as Special Police Brigade. 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.
Brigade numbered around 1400 fighters, 144 of them were killed and about 400 were wounded.
Second development stage is considered for peace time when command was in Janja and when brigade was renamed into Specialized Police Service. Two detachments were disbanded 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 and next year base was moved in central base "Sarica" in Trn near Banja Luka. Last time unit was renamed 2016 into today name. After building of Training Center in Zalužani base was moved there.
Commandeer nameTime of commandment
Milenko Karišik1992–1993
Goran Sarić1993–1997
Dušan Jević1997–1999
Dragan Lukač1999–2004
Ranko Vuković2004–2006
Predrag Krajnović2006–2015
Dragan Ribić2015–2018
Goran Balaban2018–

Unit today

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:
Unit has its own command that is inferior to Director of Police and superior to seven teams: "A" Team, "B" Team, "C" Team, "D" Team, Special Preparation and Logistic Support Team, Specialized Team and Operative Support Team.

Equipment

Armament

Vehicles