The Garda's most secretive units have teamed with cops from all over Europe to run a major anti-terror exercise that started in Dublin.
Officers from the National Surveillance and the Emergency Response units played a key role in exercise Firestorm, that involved officers from eight other countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The special operation was held in secret in several European countries between March 6 and 9 – and details have only now been released by gardai and Europol, the EU’s policing agency.
The operation was aimed at honing the skills of specialist surveillance and SWAT officers – like the NSU and ERU. The exercise began in Ireland, when fictional terrorists were spotted by NSU officers and tailed to Dublin Airport.
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There the NSU officers, backed up by ERU members who are part of the Garda’s STOC division, of Special Tactics and Operations, teamed up with undercover Austrian cops to follow the suspects to that country.
The suspects were then observed moving around Europe and cops form Belgium, France, Switzerland and Germany all became involved in the surveillance operation – before SWAT teams moved in in The Netherlands and arrested the pair as they prepared to carry out a terror attack. The operation was part of the ATLAS network, the EU’s network of police special operations teams who practice working together every year – for scenarios such as cross border terror attacks.
Assistant Commissioner Michael McElgunn, who is in charge of the force’s intelligence units, said the operation showed gardai were intent on working with colleagues in Europe to keep citizens safe. He said: "An Garda Síochána is committed to working with our International Partners in ensuring the safety of citizens here in Ireland and in Europe. Operation FIRESTORM demonstrates that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to be engaged in policing and security activities at the highest level.
"Live exercises, such as Operation FIRESTORM, are essential in ensuring Ireland and Europe’s readiness to respond to terrorist and criminal activity. An Garda Síochána will play its part in protecting domestic and international communities.”
Europol’s Deputy Executive Director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe also praised the operation. He said: “Europol is well-placed to bring networks together. Europol hosts ATLAS and supports numerous other Europe-wide networks such as the European Surveillance Group. Common exercises are fundamental to increasing the preparedness of Special Intervention Units for cross-border operations.
“Their readiness directly translates into making Europe safer.”
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