In this new three-part mini-series, RTL speaks to Luxembourg's Special Police Unit (SPU), an elite commando that responds to terror attacks and conducts high-risk missions.

The elite force has various sub-branches, ranging from specialists dealing with hostage situations, snipers, surveillance experts, demining specialists and personal bodyguards, such as for the Grand Ducal family.

It also supports the police force with high-risk arrests, surveillance, tailing or criminal investigations.

Dan Wiroth of RTL met with commander Christian Krettels and observed a training mission, in which the special unit responded to a fictional active shooter in the Upper City.

The SPU was founded in 1979, when the mobile Gendarmerie group was created following the terrorist attacks at the Olympic Games in Munich.

In Luxembourg at the time, public safety was at an all-time low, with the ongoing Bomber's Affair and Gang of Waldbillig.
Krettels was appointed Commander of Luxembourg’s Special Forces in 2009. He is the only person who can show himself without a military mask on camera, and the only person who exists in real life under his real name within this unit and to the outside world.

"Whenever a situation gets dangerous, or if it’s complex or requires specific expertise, the USP comes into action," explains Krettels. In other words, when the resources of the normal police force are depleted, the USP takes the lead.

Besides terror attacks, Krettels also focuses on other investigations: "I have a drug-related dossier, a pedo-pornographic dossier, where the goal is that the target can not destroy any evidence. Here we come into action as well. The speed of the intervention is of crucial importance."

While Luxembourg has not experienced any terror attacks in recent years, the unit is actively training any possible scenario to stay focused and responsive, explains Krettels.

The unit also supports police forces in neighbouring countries. It was also involved in breaking up a cross-border drug trafficking ring in 2022.

Luxembourg Police - Special Forces
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Watch episode 2 here:

Luxembourg's Special Police Unit (SPU) - Episode 2
In this new mini-series, RTL speaks to Luxembourg's Special Police Unit (SPU), an elite commando that responds to terror attacks and conducts high-risk missions