Grupo Especial de Operaciones
| Grupo Especial de Operaciones | |
|---|---|
Badge of the Grupo Especial de Operaciones
|
|
| Active | 5 April 1978 – present |
| Country |
 Spain |
| Type | Specialized police force |
| Role | Counter-terrorism, urban counter-terrorism, hostage crisis, organized crime, assaults, diplomatic protection service |
| Size | Classified, possibly 100 operatives |
| Part of |
 Spanish National Police Corps
|
| Nickname(s) | "GEO" |
| Anniversaries | 1 April |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Félix Antolín |
The Grupo Especial de Operaciones (English: Special Operations Group), commonly known as GEOs (pronounced HAY-owe), are the special operations forces of the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (English: National Police Corps).The GEO has response capabilities and is responsible for VIP protection duties, as well as countering and responding to terrorism. Organized along the lines of many other special counter-terrorism units throughout Europe, the GEO is focused on dealing with terrorist attacks, including aircraft hijackings as well as maritime threats and hostage taking. The GEO can also be used in a support role for Spanish Police operations outside the realm of terrorism, and is active in protecting visiting heads of state and providing security for high-profile events such as the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona. The GEO is in the ATLAS Network, that includes all counter-terrorism special units in the European Union, and of other countries.
With the intention of fighting against terrorism and several organized crime groups from Spain in the 1970s, on November 1977 the third section of Spanish military staff announced for members of the Policía Nacional vacancies which could be accessed freely for the newly formed Grupo Especial de Operaciones. The first training course began on March 1978.
A select group who had been months before in the GSG 9 base in San Agustín del Guadalix were selected to train this new unit. Colonel Ulrich Wegener, along with some members of his unit, took care of the equipment, the training and techniques which this new special unit in Spain would use.
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Wikipedia