50 years of special units: Schleswig-Holstein's elite in action!

50 years of special units: Schleswig-Holstein's elite in action!

Neustadt in Holstein, Deutschland - The special units of the Schleswig-Holstein state police celebrate an impressive anniversary: 50 years of mobile operational commands (MEK) and special operations commands (SEK)! These elite staff are the first to be called when the location becomes dangerous. They are ready around the clock to intervene in critical situations. While the MEK takes over monitoring campaigns and searches, the SEK officials specialize in the arrest of armed and particularly violent people.

The foundation of these special units goes back to the dramatic events of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich when Palestinian terrorists took hostages. This tragedy led to the realization that Germany needed specialized police forces in order to be able to act effectively in such crisis situations. In November 1974 the first SEK was launched in Schleswig-Holstein, and since then the emergency services have continuously developed and perfected.

spectacular missions and secret operations

Although the identity of the civil servants remains secret, some missions are so spectacular that they came to the public. A memorable moment was the arrest of the RAF terrorist Christian Klar in 1982, in which SEK officials were waiting for his arrest for weeks in the holder. The SEK officials also demonstrated their professionalism and efficiency in hostages such as the threat of a psychologist in 1997. The collaboration between MEK and SEK led to the arrested tank gang in 2005, which blew up ATMs in the north.

The challenges that special units look for today are enormous. According to Rolf Peter Ott, deputy director of the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office, the threats are more complex than ever. There were alarming numbers in 2023: twice as many cases of service due to attacks on civil servants compared to the previous year, including a case of homicide. The police union warns of a worrying increase in brutal attacks on emergency services. However, the special units remain determined to fulfill their important role in the fight against crime and to ensure the security of citizens.