- Source: IG EULEX
IG EULEX (Intervention Group) is a European multinational police tactical unit of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) that is based in Mitrovica. The unit was originally formed as Special Team 6.
History
Special Team 6 (ST6) was formed after the Kosovo conflict in 1999 by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The size of ST6 was 21 operators seconded mostly from various European police tactical units. The unit formed a part of the United Nations Police and every member country of the United Nations could contribute to the unit. They acted as police officers and handled dangerous situations caused by Albanian and Serb ethnic violence in Kosovo. Special Team 6 handled high-risk arrests, security of diplomats, and hostage rescue.
In December 2008, ST6 was renamed the IG EULEX (Intervention Group) when it transferred to the EULEX from the UNMIK.
Members
ST6 personnel had to be experienced police tactical unit operators. Units that had personnel in ST6 include:
Austria: EKO Cobra
Canada: Emergency Task Force (TPS)
Croatia: ATJ Lučko
Czech Republic: URN, Zásahová jednotka KŘP Jihočeského kraje and Zásahová jednotka KŘP Plzeňského kraje
France: GIGN
Germany: GSG 9 and SEK
Iceland: Víkingasveitin
Norway: Delta
Slovenia: SEP
Sweden: Piketen (Malmö)
Ukraine: WSzR Sokił UBOZ
Units or countries that have or have had personnel in EULEX IG include:
Austria: EKO Cobra
Belgium: CGSU
Czech Republic
France: GIGN and RAID
Germany: GSG 9 and SEK
Italy: GIS and NOCS
Lithuania: Spec Kuopa VST
Netherlands: DSI and UIM
Poland: SPAP
Romania: DIAS
Slovakia
Slovenia: SEP
Sweden: NI and Piketen (Malmö)
References
External links
(in Norwegian) Politiforum magazine article January 2006 Vier ikke ute etterå skape helter
(in Norwegian) Aftenposten newspaper article 11 January 2006 Risikerer livet på hemmelig oppdrag
Flashbang magazine Spring 2017 issue 8 EULEX IG
