German Special Forces GSG 9 turn 40

Fri 21st Sep, 2012

On September 16, 2012, German Special Forces GSG 9 celebrate their 40th anniversary. These Special Forces were set up only three weeks after the massacre at the Munich Olympics. In Munich, German police had no specialists for terror attacks. Experts agreed this was one of the reasons why eleven Israeli sportsmen and one German policeman were killed trying to free the hostages on the Airfield in Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich (see Munich Eye Sep 5).

GSG became famous when it freed all hostages alive from a kidnapped Lufthansa aircraft in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1979. German Minister for the Interior, Hans-Peter Friedrich (CSU), explained that threats and requirements to fight terrorism have changed significantly in the last 40 years. Friedrich said, "GSG 9 has always found the right answer to deal with new techniques and threats." According to Friedrich, GSG 9 is well-prepared to fight terrorism in the 21st century. "I am proud of this GSG 9," said the minister.


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