Police Special Operations Group

In March 2015, the idea of creating a police task force was born. Moreover, the former Algerian Police Chief Abdelghani Hamel, who had visited the RAID in France earlier, confirmed that the police would need a group like the French RAID.^[2][3]

The vast majority of GOSP members come from police task forces such as the BRI (Brigade de recherche et d'intervention) or the BMPJ (Brigade mobile de la Police judiciaire). However, a few members come from Unités de Maintien de l'Ordre (UMO) and other police forces.

GOSP police officers are trained in the DSI (Special Intervention Detachment), which is the Algerian equivalent of the French GIGN. They are trained in urban, semi-urban, closed environment and close combat.

Placed under the direct authority of the director general of the Algerian Police, the GOSP is called upon to intervene in the event of serious events, requiring the use of specific techniques and means to neutralize dangerous individuals, through negotiation or intervention. The GOSP is the Algerian equivalent of the French RAID.^[1][3]

The GOSP headquarters is positioned in Boudouaou in the Boumerdès Province east of Algiers with between 300 and 500 members.^[1] In addition, this unit may be supported by BRI in the police or SSI units of the gendarmerie.

Moreover, the GOSP has several groups with their specialties :

• Intervention group
• Support group
• Recognition and intelligence group
• Technical group
• aquatic group (with combat divers)
• Aeral group
• Medic group
• Canine group
• Deminers group

The missions of the GOSP are:

• Urban counter-terrorism and hostage rescue
• Neutralization of dangerous fanatics or criminals
• Participation in criminal police operations
• Escort and transfer of dangerous detainees
• Close protection and the escort of high-profile personalities.
• Civilian assistance mission
• Involvement in anti-gang operations