In the second part of this 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.
In part 1 of the series, released last week, commander of the unit, Christian Krettels, introduced the various sub-branches of the force, 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 has been waiting for years to be able to interview the force, a part of public law enforcement that is largely kept in the dark. The police officers do their work away from the spotlight.
In this week's episode, Krettels explains in more detail how the force was founded and how it has adapted over time. We also hear from an elite sniper and spotter, as well as a hostage negotiator, and accompany units on the shooting range.
Watch episode 1 here:
Over 200 operations per year
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.
"Prior to the pandemic we had well over 200 operations per year. This is an absolute number. It includes every suspicious suitcase or package at the central station...but it also includes long-term observation missions," he explains.
When the resources of the normal police force are depleted, the USP takes the lead. The availability of the unit in Luxembourg is guaranteed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. If they are not in the field, they are constantly in training, often abroad with other experts.
Crime has developed enormously in the last 25 years, says the commander. The first wave, including attacks in Madrid and London in 2004 and 2005, led to the development of tactical demining, for example. After the second wave of attacks in Toulouse and Montauban in 2012, as well as Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan later, the special police unit has adapted to more mobile, paramilitary-style 'lone wolf' scenarios.
Since 2005, all European Special Police Units are part of an alliance: ATLAS. The aim of the alliance is to improve information exchange between countries and improve collaboration.
Taking the decisive shot
"Shooting training is very important in our unit. Of course we hope we’ll never have to take a real shot, but if it’s required it has to be spot on target. Therefore we set a very high bar at our annual shooting exam for all members of our unit," says Krettels.
When it comes to snipers, their main job is to observe over both long and short distances. Their operating distance is 100 metres, also on mobile targets, but can guarantee successful target hits up to 400 metres.
Lying on the roof of the RTL building for this video, a spotter says: "The fact that no shot has been fired in 20 years shows that the cogwheels worked smoothly prior to any weapons having to be drawn. I am very happy to go home every day without having to shoot. But you have to know that if someone out there decides to cross all the red lines, and all measures are being exhausted, no one here will hesitate one second before taking the shot."
The sniper adds: "We are always checking what legal framework we’re in. So that if the shot has to be taken, everything has come from the top, and I don’t have to worry, because at that moment it’s just about saving lives, whether hostages or others. We have to keep our head clear, because there are enough other variables we’re thinking about in that moment."
Hostage situations
In part three of this series, coming next week, we'll be following a training whereby an attacker takes hostages in a factory. This is where negotiators come into play.
"Other religions, other languages, other cultures…other upbringings. These are big factors during negotiations," says an anonymous negotiator to RTL.
"We are one of many options that can come into play," says another. "Our task is to use words, arguments and a conversation to solve the conflict. Of course we can try and reach out a hand, and look for solutions for his future, but we can’t simply make all promises."
