| Unit Name: | Special Anti-Terrorist Unit |
| Native Name: | Специјална антитерористичка јединица |
| Dates: | 1978 – present |
| Country: | Serbia |
| Agency: | Police of Serbia |
| Type: | Police tactical unit |
| Role: | Law enforcement Counter-terrorism Hostage rescue |
| Ops Juris: | National |
| Headquarters: | Batajnica |
| Sworn Type Label: | Members |
| Sworn: | ~300[1] |
| Current Commander: | Col. Spasoje Vulević |
| Programmes: | --> |
| Anniversaries: | 18 December |
The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbian: Специјална антитерористичка јединица|Specijalna antiteroristička jedinica, abbr. САЈ / SAJ), is an elite tactical unit of the Serbian Police.[2] [3] [4]
The history of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit dates back to 18 December 1978 and the establishment of the Militia Unit for Special Actions (Jedinica Milicije za specijalna dejstva). The first base for the Milicija unit was at the militia station in New Belgrade. Its first commander was Miloš Bujenović. In 1983, the unit moved to Belgrade Airport in Surčin.
In 1991, the unit renamed as the Anti-Terrorism Unit (Antiteroristička jedinica). In 1992, during the reorganization of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Militia, the Anti-Terrorism Unit was placed under the Directorate of Public Security of the reorganized ministry. That same year, command was formed in Belgrade, with established branches in Novi Sad and Priština. Zoran Simović was the head of the then Belgrade unit, Novi Sad branch-unit was led by Branko Jurčić, and Priština branch-unit by Radoslav Stalević. At that period, the unit moved to the base in Batajnica, in which it has been ever since.[5]
In 1994, the unit was renamed as the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, which it bears to the current day. During the Kosovo War, the unit operated on the suppression of militants of the KLA. During these operations, sixteen members of the unit died in combat.[6]
In 2015, the Counter-Terrorist Unit (established in 2003) was merged into the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.[7] [8]
Among the main missions of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit are:
The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit is organized in four "teams" (timovi), platoon-size units, each with their own specializations.
The following equipment is in operational use as of 2024:
Since its establishment the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit had six commanders:
The anniversary of the unit is celebrated on 18 December, in memory of the day in 1978 when the unit was established.
The unit's slava or its saint's feast day is Saint Michael the Archangel (Aranđelovdan).
Motto of the Brigade is: "One who dares - can, one who knows no fear - succeed!" (Ko sme, taj može, ko ne zna za strah, taj ide napred!). Author of the motto is Vojvoda Živojin Mišić, Serbian field marshal in the World War I.
The Special Anti-Terrorist Unit appears in a video games and .