ARAS (Lithuania)
Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The ARAS, formally Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS (Lithuanian: Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS), is the police tactical unit of the Lithuanian Police Force, established in 1991.[1]
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| Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS | |
|---|---|
| Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS | |
| |
| Active | 1991 – present |
| Country |  Lithuania |
| Agency | Lithuanian Police Force |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Operations jurisdiction | National |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
ARAS's initial purpose was to suppress organized crime groups that were operating in Lithuania in 1990s.[2] In addition, they handled riot suppression, peace keeping, and escort.[2]
In December 2004, the unit was admitted into the ATLAS Network of police tactical units of the European Union countries.[3]
Aras does several hundred domestic and international operations in a typical year, most of which are never publicized.[4]
Structure
ARAS consists of a:
- Command,
- Special Team,
- Explosive Search and Neutralization Division,[5]
- Information, analysis and negotiation Division,
- 2 divisions, one of them located in Klaipėda.
The unit also has specialized CBRN defense, climber, combat medic, EOD, K-9, negotiation, reconnaissance, sniper, and tactical diver groups that are necessary to carry out the main functions ascribed to the unit.
Functions
The main functions of ARAS are to:
- organize, manage and implement special antiterrorist operations inside Lithuania;
- hostage rescue and detain dangerous armed criminals under extreme or high danger circumstances;
- search for and neutralize improvised explosive devices and military explosives, used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
- under their competence participate while performing various operative actions, detaining persons, suspected to have performed or planning to commit a crime;
- collect and analyze information related to terrorist threats, cooperate with professional institutions of other countries in this sphere;
- participate in organizing and implementing plans and programs for antiterrorist measures, and other legal acts establishing terrorism prevention.[6]
