PICTURES. Fictional terrorist hostage-taking and assault rifles: behind the scenes with the RAID

By Ivan CAPECCHI Published the updated on 10 Sep 21 at 18:23Actu StrasbourgSee my news

“In there, there are at least three terro’ with suspicion of explosives. What is certain is that we have at least three hostages. Under a stormy sky, Commander Freddy* briefs his men before launching the assault.

A column, huddled behind a large shield, slowly and noiselessly approaches a door. Behind, lives are at stake. The eyes that pierce the hoods are lively, alert. The door opens. "Hostage with Terror!" “says a man. Shots ring out.

Also read

Ex-GIPN

The RAID was created in 1985. In March 2015, the seven National Police Intervention Groups (GIPN) were integrated into the RAID to become its territorial branches.

Today, the RAID has 13 regional branches, including in Strasbourg and Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).

Also read

Specialized in negotiation and attacks

The RAID has many missions but its priorities are to fight against organized crime, organized crime, and terrorism. He is particularly specialized in negotiation and assaults, in order to challenge or neutralize madmen.

All this week, the operators of the RAID in Strasbourg have reviewed all the protocols to be applied according to the situation: intervention for a person entrenched in their home, hostage taking, protection of personalities, etc.

Also read

"Tactics are a living matter"

For the occasion, a trainer came from Bièvres (Essonne), the central level of the RAID, to supervise the training and provide an outside perspective.

“Tactics is a living matter, which evolves all the time. If we don't work on it regularly, the tactics evolve and we don't, ”points out Commander Freddy.

Also read

“Striving for excellence”

After neutralizing fake terrorists, Marc takes a break with his colleagues. Joining the police in 2003, and attracted by the intervention - he notably went through the Anti-Crime Squad (BAC) -, Marc joined the RAID four years ago. He is now the Deputy Head of Branch.

"RAID is trying to strive, even if we will never be perfect and we can always improve, towards excellence in our discipline", he confides.

Also read

The Strasbourg attack still in everyone's mind

The operations that have marked it in recent years? "Obviously, the Strasbourg attack," he replies tac-au-tac.

The Strasbourg Christmas market attack is an Islamist terrorist attack perpetrated on December 11, 2018 by Chérif Chekatt. The terrorist, shot dead by the police after a 48-hour manhunt, killed five people and injured eleven others.

Also read

Focus on the technique to put fear aside

How do we manage fear and stress during the interventions?

"Someone who would say that he is not afraid would be lying, I think," says Sylvain, operator. “It is precisely this little stress, this little fear that makes us concentrate and that, when we enter the apartment, we are at 200%”, he adds.

Also read

Menu of the day: omelette, rice and team spirit

Once back from training, the members of the RAID take a lunch break. Menu of the day: omelet, rice.

Working at RAID means evolving within a "pack of wolves", to use Commander Freddy's expression: either you are integrated into it, or you are expelled, or you end up leaving on your own -even.

“There is a real team spirit that stands out,” says Sylvain. "It's very important because, when you go inter ', you have to be able to count on the friend," he said.

The new recruit will have to find his place

"It's a job where there are strong characters but I found a very good atmosphere there", assures Arthur, 35 years old , the latest RAID recruit in Strasbourg, who only arrived last Monday. "It's a family, more than colleagues, and that's what I came for," continues the former soldier.

Like any operator, he will have to specialize: break-in, negotiation... He initially chose high-precision shooting (THR).

No women in the workforce

The Strasbourg RAID has about twenty members. Apart from administrative staff, there are no women.

A situation that is not specific to Strasbourg, far from it: in 2014, there were only two of them present on the ground, according to the website of the National Police, which explains this by the fact that " few dare to take the leap”.

However, women can now hold all positions within the RAID, which has not always been the case.

Was this article useful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Strasbourg in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.

Share