Unidad Especial de Intervención

Special Intervention Unit
*Unidad Especial de Intervención*
Special Intervention Unit; Unidad Especial de Intervención
	Coat of arms
	Patch
	Service Badge
Abbreviation	UEI
Motto	Celeritas et Subtilitas Patrio; Speed and Precision for the Fatherland
Agency overview
Formed	1978
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Spain
General nature	Gendarmerie;
Specialist jurisdiction	Counter terrorism, special weapons operations. Protection of internationally protected persons, other very important persons, and/or of state property of significance.;
Notables
Person	Our Lady of the Pillar, Patron;
Anniversary	June 3rd;

The Unidad Especial de Intervención (UEI) (English: Special Intervention Unit) is the only tier one police tactical unit of the Spanish Civil Guard (English: Civil Guard) that specialized in counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, high-risk tactical special operations, quick raid to capture or kill (if necessary) high-value targets, and VIP protection.

The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and tactical special operations.

Overview

UEI was established in 1978 to respond to high risk situations and including those involving hostages and terrorism situations.^[2] Its motto is Celeritas et Subtilitas Patrio. The exact scope of UEI operations and total number of personnel are not published. In 2008, on the occasion of the Unit's 30th anniversary, its commanding officer revealed that the UEI had until then participated in 375 operations, in which 563 hostages had been freed and 640 people arrested, of whom 141 belonged to terrorist groups. These operations included 11 high-sea missions against drug-trafficking. He also revealed that due to the demanding selection process, of the 26 applicants that had applied to join the Unit that year, only four had been admitted.^[1] The Unit has also intervened in 18 prison riots involving hostages.^[2] The UEI is part of the European Union-sponsored ATLAS Network.^[3]

Equipment

Uniform

In assaults operations:

Green assault coveralls with the unit's shield on the right sleeve at shoulder height and the Spanish flag on the left sleeve at shoulder height.
Black balaclava that gives the informal nickname to the unit: black faces.
Bulletproof vest.
Tactical vest, dress on the previous one.
Helmet with ballistic protection visor for urban combat.
Protection of elbows, knees and shin guards.
Boots and gloves.

In boarding operations:

Black coveralls of naval intervention with autoinflatable life jacket. Shield and flag on the sleeves.
Black balaclava.
Bulletproof vest.
Tactical vest.
Protection of elbows, knees and shin guards.
ProTec lightweight half-head polyethylene hull.
Boots and gloves.

In riot control operations:

Equipment for riot control.

Weapons

These are a few of them:^[4]

Heckler & Koch USP
Glock 17 Gen 3 equipped with a tactical flashlight
Glock Model 17 Gen 4 equipped with a tactical flashlight
Heckler & Koch MP5
Heckler & Koch MP7
FN P90
Heckler & Koch G36K
Heckler & Koch G41
Heckler & Koch HK416
Heckler & Koch HK417
Barrett M82
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare

Organization

The Unit is commanded by an active lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard and its divided on:^[5]

Operative Groups
Technical Support Groups.

References

^ ^a ^b Sanz Ezquerro, David (5 June 2008). "Los héroes anónimos de la Guardia Civil". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b (in Spanish) "La Unidad Especial de Intervención de la Guardia Civil perfecciona las técnicas antiterroristas en ámbito naval" Spain's Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
^ (in Spanish) "La elite de la Guardia Civil se perfecciona en antiterrorismo naval" El Mundo. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
^ Núñez Calvo, Jesús N. (2008). "El armamento de la Guardia Civil (1844-2002)". Armas Especial. 3.
^ Unidad Especial de Intervención. Guardia Civil. Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine

[mundo-1] Sanz Ezquerro, David (5 June 2008). "Los héroes anónimos de la Guardia Civil". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 September 2017.

[gob-2] (in Spanish) "La Unidad Especial de Intervención de la Guardia Civil perfecciona las técnicas antiterroristas en ámbito naval" Spain's Ministry of the Interior. Retrieved 19 July 2013.

[3] (in Spanish) "La elite de la Guardia Civil se perfecciona en antiterrorismo naval" El Mundo. Retrieved 18 July 2013.

[4] Núñez Calvo, Jesús N. (2008). "El armamento de la Guardia Civil (1844-2002)". Armas Especial. 3.

[5] Unidad Especial de Intervención. Guardia Civil. Archived 2011-09-16 at the Wayback Machine

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