| Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit | |
|---|---|
| Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko (Croatian) | |
.svg) Emblem | |
| Active | 7 September 1990 – present |
| Country | Croatia |
| Agency | Croatian Police |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Role | Counter-terrorism Law enforcement |
| Headquarters | Lučko |
| Abbreviation | Lučko ATU |
| Structure | |
| Officers | 130 |
Anti-Terrorist Unit Lučko (ATU Lučko) (Croatian:Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko; ATJ Lučko), also known as theLučko Anti-Terrorist Unit[1] (Croatian:Lučko Antiteroristička jedinica; Lučko ATJ) is thepolice tactical unit of theCroatian Police stationed inLučko nearZagreb, the capital ofCroatia. Initially distinguishing itself in theCroatian War of Independence, it has gone on to become Croatia's leading police tactical unit. Like all police units in the country, it is under the command of theMinistry of the Interior. It is a member of theATLAS Network, an association of European police tactical units.
Several of its operators have gone on to achieve notability, including Croatian mixed martial arts fighterMirko "Cro Cop" Filipović.
The unit was established on 7 September 1990.[2] It initially comprised 225 volunteers, many of whom had been enrolled in the First Croatian Police Officer course (Croatian:Prvi hrvatski redarstvenik),[2] which was formed in order to create a police force loyal to the new Croatian government during the political tensions leading to Croatia'sproclamation of independence from Yugoslavia, and the subsequent escalation of theCroatian War of Independence.[3] It was the first Croatian fighting unit taking part in the war.[4] It was also the only fighting unit ofCroatian Special Police Forces at that time, and the first unit of the future Croatian Special Police.[2]
Its first missions were to restore public order in areas where Serbs participating in theLog Revolution were trying to wrest control from the authorities; to take control of the barracks and confiscate weapons of theYugoslav People's Army, whose authority in Croatia was rescinded by the country's government after it sided with the Log Revolution; and to train units which would later be organised into theCroatian Armed Forces. The unit saw its first military skirmish on 1 March 1991, thePakrac clash.[2][5] It took part in many battles during the war, including thePlitvice Lakes incident, battles ofGlina,Topusko,Petrinja,Nuštar, theSiege of Dubrovnik, and OperationsMaslenica,Medak Pocket,Flash andStorm.[2] In October 1991, the unit spearheaded an unsuccessful attempt to lift the siege of Vukovar, during this attempt the unit suffered 12 fatalities.[6]
Members of Lučko ATU's chain of command, including General Mladen Markač, weretried by theInternational Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for alleged war crimes committed during Operation Storm.[7] They were acquitted of all charges on appeal.[8]
After the Croatian War of Independence, the unit specialised inspecial police assignments. During the course of the war, 14,[9] 19,[5] 24,[2][10] 41[11] Lučko ATU police officers were killed and 52 wounded in the unit of 350 members.[2][5][9] Subsequently, none of the members have been killed on duty, although several have perished at training in diving accidents.[10]
Lučko ATU is stationed inLučko, nearZagreb, the capital of Croatia. As of 2015, the unit numbered 130 police officers, most of whom have college education. Applicants, who must already be police officers with at least four years of experience, are required to pass a demanding battery of tests, and only around 5% are admitted to a 12-month training regimen necessary to join the unit. Like the rest of the Croatian police force, the unit is under command of the CroatianMinistry of the Interior. It answers to the Minister of the Interior, and is only deployed on their direct command.[10]
The unit's specialisations are anti-terrorist actions, actions against organised crime, high-risk arrests, building assaults, hostage situations and negotiations (including aircraft hijackings). Lučko ATU also provides police protection to local and visiting state officials, and has done so during visits to Croatia ofGeorge W. Bush,Vladimir Putin,Joe Biden,Donald Tusk and PopesJohn Paul II andBenedict XVI.[10][12]
Lučko ATU is a member of theATLAS Network of European police tactical units, and also trains with AmericanSWAT teams.[10][13]
Lučko ATU members are armed with pistols (including models of Croatian firearms manufacturerHS Produkt),submachine guns,assault rifles,shotguns and optionallysniper rifles, and authorised to use armoured cars and helicopters. Lučko ATU's air unit, stationed at theLučko Airport, numbers thirty pilots and mechanics, and the unit is reportedly able to reach any part of Croatia within 30 minutes.
Professional mixed martial artistMirko "Cro Cop" Filipović was a member of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit.[14][15][16] He wore his Croatian special police uniform at press conferences,[15] leading to hismixed martial arts nickname "Cro Cop".[14][16]
Robert Zadro (son of Blago Zadro, a notable commander who died during battle of Vukovar), one of the first ATU Lučko members, took part and survived the battle of Vukovar, killed during Battle of Kupres.[17]
Seven generals of theCroatian Army were previously members: Slavko Butorac, Miljenko Filipović,Mladen Markač,Mirko Norac, Ante Roso, Željko Sačić and Stanko Sopta.[2][10]
Filipović, as a member of the anti-terrorist unit Lučko, the source of his nickname Crocop.
