The Federal Ministry of the Interior changed the unit's name from GEK to EKO Cobra in 2002. There forecast may be for some fiery clashes at the G20, but the first day of the summit appeared to get off to a frosty start when Donald Trump faced Malcolm Turnbull in Hamburg. Jul 10, 2017 - G20 German Police Special Forces deploy to the city of Hamburg in an attempt to regain control after protests turned violent. Starship Earth: The Big Picture . Massive protests are expected to brew as controversial world leaders descend on Hamburg. The G20 summit under the German Presidency will be held on 7 and 8 July 2017 in Hamburg. Thousands of people rallied peacefully in Hamburg Sunday in protest at next week's G20 summit, where US President Donald Trump is to make his maiden appearance at the forum of major economies. Last week, the G20 summit in Hamburg saw massive attacks on fundamental democratic rights. "Peaceful protest is welcome in our democracy ... but violent protest will be stopped," Germany's top security official, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said this week. The 450 men[citation needed] of EKO Cobra have trained with some[which?] It was a reference to the US TV series Mission: Impossible that was aired in German under the title Kobra, übernehmen Sie. [1], The name Cobra was coined by the press. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world. The 20 heads of state and government and top-level representatives of international organisations will meet at Hamburg Messe, the city’s exhibition and trade fair centre. Greenpeace, for example, sees the G20 as an opportunity for leaders to send a strong signal about their determination to fight climate change – despite the US' decision to pull out of the Paris agreement. Hamburg G20 Protests Turn Violent. But with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joining him at the Group of 20 meetings in Germany this week, he likely won't even be at the top of the list for demonstrators. Further units of the DSE are the police's bomb disposal units, the obersvation units and special investigative units.[15]. ... Of those who are on hand, Germany's counter-terrorist GSG9 force will be assisted by Austria's counterpart Cobra and specialists from the Netherlands and other countries, Meyer said. In 2017, 20 EKO Cobra operatives were directly involved to end the severe riots in the Schanzenviertel area during the G20 Hamburg summit, three operatives were wounded. As the tactical skills of this unit were welcome in other fields, too, the mission of the Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando became broader in the course of years, and it climbed the hierarchy, from being a regional unit to becoming assigned directly to the Generaldirektion für öffentliche Sicherheit, the leading authority for public security within the Ministry of the Interior. President Donald Trump was met with thousands of protesters when he arrived at meetings in Brussels in May. ... together with the notorious Cobra special unit from Vienna, was used to storm occupied houses. Upon successful completion of the tests the recruits attend 6 months of specialized training which includes marksmanship, tactical training, sports, driver courses, abseiling/rappelling, hand-to-hand combat, language classes, etc. It first appeared in June 1973 in the Kronen Zeitung.[1]. Trade negotiated but climate remains sticking point at G20 summit, Merkel pitches for inclusive growth amid anti-G20 protests, Millions place hope in G20, Merkel tells leaders, Erdogan arrives in Germany for G20 summit, UK, EU leaders to meet as year-end trade deal nears deadline, UN expert demands Assange's release, 10 years on, Macron seeks French cabinet backing for law seen 'anti-Muslim', Erdogan: Possible EU sanctions don't concern Turkey, Grandmother, 90, gets first Covid jab as UK starts vaccine drive, US envoy airs concerns as France targets Muslims, PSG v Basaksehir UEFA match suspended over racist abuse by official, Show people, places and other topics in this story. Les manifestacions contra la cimera del G20 han derivat avui en disturbis violents protagonitzats per grups de l'esquerra radical i antisistema, en un Hamburg asfixiat pel cúmul de protestes convocades davant de la cita dels líders dels països més poderosos del món, que s'obre formalment demà. A szélsőségesek a kikötőváros hajóforgalmának megzavarásával vagy a Hamburg egyik leghíresebb szülöttjéről, ... valamint a Cobra és a Wega nevű osztrák terrorelhárító alakulat egy-egy csoportját. Hamburg braces for protests before G20 summit. "We're looking for the G20, and if that's not possible, then the G19, to go forward with implementing the Paris agreement and maybe doing even more," Greenpeace International's executive director Jennifer Morgan said. Further departments exist in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and Innsbruck with small field offices in Klagenfurt, Salzburg, and Feldkirch. Still, German security officials are preparing for the worst, drawing upon decades of experience dealing with violent May Day demonstrations and other protests at major events, including the G7 in 2015 and G8 in 2007. Each department contains four teams and each field office contains two. "We are calling on the world to make Hamburg a focal point of the resistance against the old and new capitalist authorities," said the organisers, who have ties to the Rote Flora squat, a centre for radical leftists where police have clashed frequently with protesters. "This event will not be disturbed, of that I am certain.". That's not to say all protesters are violent – most aren't and see the gathering of as an opportunity to highlight their messages with the world watching, and with the hope the leaders gathering inside Hamburg's congress will listen. The roots of the EKO Cobra lie in the Gendarmerieeinsatzkommando Bad Vöslau that was originally formed by the regional police authority of Lower Austria to protect East European Jews during their migration via Austria to Israel against terrorist threats. The site is a short walk from where the leaders will be meeting. Germany has also denied Erdogan permission to hold a rally on the sidelines of the summit, which could have drawn huge protests from Kurds living in Germany. In addition to the no-protest zone, tightly-secured transit corridors are set up to ensure that convoys will be able to keep moving lest they become a target for violent demonstrators or terrorists if they are stopped. In a preview of things to come, police clashed Tuesday night in Hamburg with hundreds of protesters, using pepper spray and water cannons to eventually bring the crowd under control. "It should be peaceful criticism," she said in June. of the most elite special forces units. The "Welcome to Hell" demonstration is just one of dozens of protests that have been registered under a smorgasbord of themes – including a far-right pro-Trump rally – with more than 100,000 demonstrators from across Europe and beyond taking part. EKO Cobra use a variety of equipment designed for a variety of situations. Im Einsatz beim G20-Gipfel in Hamburg: Mitglieder des österreichischen Sondereinsatzkommandos „Cobra“ At the G20 summit in Hamburg, members of the Austrian special commander "Cobra" Krawalle bei G20-Gipfel: Ösi-Elite-Cops stürmen Barrikaden | Politik [12], Since its establishment in 1978, 1,140 officers have served in EKO Cobra.[13]. They'll be stationed around the city in strategic locations to help protect the summit's expected 6,500 participants from any attack. The group is also calling for residents who live within the security zone to hang flags and banners out of their windows so that leaders will see them on the way in. That includes both underwater and aerial drones. Add India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders whose controversial policies have sparked unrest, mix in the cauldron that is Hamburg – the summit venue is only about a kilometre from the country's most notorious hotbed of left-wing protest – and the brew could prove explosive. Like many non-profit organisations, Greenpeace is fighting against a security decision to block off a 38 sq km (almost 15 sq miles) no-protest zone encompassing the airport where leaders will arrive and the conference centre where they will meet. On the outskirts of the city, a former wholesale supermarket has been converted into a special temporary prison with holding cells for 400 people, and judges on hand to decide whether there's enough evidence to keep them longer term or to set them free. [16] EKO Cobra defeated a United States Marine Corps 13th MEU and a joint team from U.S. Army Special Forces 5th Group and Jordan SFG 101 among many others. World leaders gather for G20 summit while protesters riot in Hamburg, in pictures Officials expect some 8,000 protesters from Europe's violent left-wing scene, and have been tracking known activists coming in from Scandinavia, Switzerland, Italy and elsewhere, said Hamburg police chief Ralf Martin Meyer. They will be be stationed around the city in strategic locations to help protect the summit participants. The 2017 G20 Hamburg summit was the twelfth meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20), which was held on 7–8 July 2017, at Hamburg Messe, in the city of Hamburg, Germany. For the EKO Cobra guitar, see, "Vom "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" zur "Cobra": Der Aufbau der Österreichischen Antiterrorkräfte", https://www.bmi.gv.at/207/Publikationen/files/Air_Marshals.pdf, http://www.oe-journal.at/Aktuelles/!2006/0806/W1/20408bmi.htm, "Charred body of Austrian gunman found in bunker of house", "Tiroler Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz", "Drei Österreicher verletzt: Deutsche Polizei fürchtet neue Eskalation", "G-20: Cobra und Wega "an vorderster Front, https://www.vindobona.org/article/terror-attack-in-vienna-perpetrator-was-sympathizer-of-the-islamic-state, "Österreichische Sondereinheit: Cobra, übernehmen Sie! "G-20: Welcome to Hell" is the slogan anti-globalisation activists registered for their protests on July 6, when Trump and other leaders arrive for the July 7-8 summit in the northern port city. Follow us on Instagram. [3], 135 EKO Cobra operatives together with units of the Austrian Armed Forces were involved in the search for Alois Huber in the Annaberg shooting, who killed three police officers and one Red Cross EMT on 17 September 2013, in Lower Austria. #SEK #Cobra #Police #SpecialForces #Polizei #Germany #Austria #Hamburg #G20 EKO Cobra was involved in a hostage rescue in the Graz-Karlau Prison in 1996, and numerous other operations. Donald Trump is standing out from the crowd at the G20 gathering in Hamburg thanks to the US flag pin he wears instead of the summit's badge. [11], Any member of the Austrian Federal Police may apply to the EKO Cobra. Der G20-Gipfel in Hamburg am 7. und 8.Juli 2017 war das zwölfte Treffen der Gruppe der zwanzig wichtigsten Industrie- und Schwellenländer.Neben deren Staats- und Regierungschefs nahmen Politiker weiterer Staaten und Vertreter internationaler wirtschafts-und handelspolitischer Organisationen daran teil.. Rund 31.000 Polizisten wurden zum Schutz des Gipfels und der Stadt eingesetzt. This structure allows the units to be deployed anywhere in Austria in under 70 minutes. The Group of 20 (G20) comprises leaders of the world's major industrialised and emerging economies. This statistic shows key figures about the G20 summit taking place in Hamburg on July 7 and 8, 2017. It performs all administrative activities and the training for the EKO Cobra officers. [2], In the course of the 2006 Lebanon War EKO Cobra assisted in the evacuation of Austrians and other EU citizens from Lebanon. That means that police can be expected to react swiftly to any "spontaneous" protests inside the security zone closer to where the world leaders are meeting. Its main office is in Wiener Neustadt, with sub-offices in Graz, Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. ", "3rd Annual Warrior Competition Event, 2011", Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=EKO_Cobra&oldid=992268516, Non-military counter-terrorist organizations, Specialist law enforcement agencies of Austria, Military units and formations established in 1978, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February 2013, Articles with German-language sources (de), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Is the standard issue sidearm of EKO Cobra, sometimes equipped with a tactical flashlight. His supporters are pleased - but Obama did it first. ... for Trump at G20 02:23. [14], On 1 April 2013, EKO Cobra was merged in the newly established Special Operations Directorate - DSE (Direktion für Spezialeinheiten ). "Well under a minute, that's the concept. Police deploy 20,000 officers to secure German city as tens of thousands gather to protest meeting of world leaders. A picture is worth a thousand words. G20 Hamburg Germany 2017 Brokeback Trump: Meeting Putin G20 Hamburg more Brokeback Trump Putin & Trump Tower Downtown Moscow @ www.narcissistdonaldtrump.blogspot.com. The tests consist of medical examinations, psychological tests, and vigorous physical tests. "We have to assume that this is only a tiny percentage of what is still in basements and garages in and around Hamburg," Hamburg police criminal director Jan Hieber told reporters this week. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. [4], In 2016, 42 officers supported the German Police in the Munich shooting. HAMBURG AFP July7, 2017 - Protesters clashed with police, torched patrol cars and blocked roads in the German city of Hamburg on Friday in fresh violence just before the start of the G20 summit, .. The team overpowered the man and handed him over to authorities after landing. One could say the state used… EKO Cobra is not part of the Austrian Federal Police, but instead is directly under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. They are, in principle, everywhere.". The unit's headquarters is located in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria). They are 220 officers shorter than planned, however, after Hamburg sent home a Berlin contingent for partying excessively at their barracks, with police officers allegedly urinating on a fence and an officer dressed in a bathrobe dancing on a table with a weapon in her hand. [16], This article is about the Austrian police tactical unit. "You can be certain that you will see all of the equipment that German police have here in Hamburg," said Hartmude Dudde, who is leading the security team for Hamburg police. Already in the weeks ahead of the summit, in incidents believed linked to the meeting, police cars have been burned, train lines have been sabotaged and authorities in Hamburg and the nearby city of Rostock have confiscated improvised weapons such as fire extinguishers filled with flammable liquid, material to build gasoline bombs, baseball bats and other items in several raids. with select-fire capability (semi-automatic, fully automatic), Maroon beret to indicate their elite status, The unit's insignia is worn instead of the police insignia, The rank insignia's background is black instead of red as from the regular Federal Police uniforms, This page was last edited on 4 December 2020, at 11:37. Although it has never participated in the same type of hostage rescue operations that the HRT, GIGN, GIS, NSG, ERU, GSG 9, and the SAS have had, the EKO Cobra is the only Counter-Terrorism unit to end a hijacking while the aircraft was still in the air. EKO Cobra officers wear the uniform of the Austrian Federal Police with certain modifications: During tactical operations the officers wear green or black coveralls along with their tactical gear. "You can count on a very quick reaction time," Meyer told reporters. Demonstrations need to be registered with authorities in Germany before going ahead – otherwise they're considered illegal and can be immediately broken up. Macron-Modi meeting likely in July during Hamburg G20 summit CoBRA to 'bite' Naxals; 2,000 commandos to enter Sukma soon 2 Territorial Army jawans killed in bomb attack in Manipur Hamburg is boosting its police force with reinforcements from around the country and will have 20,000 officers on hand to patrol the city's streets, skies and waterways. EKO Cobra (German: Einsatzkommando Cobra) is the police tactical unit of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. July 8, 2017. This organisation serves as a unified command for the units with special tasks of the Austrian Federal Police. After being under siege for weeks, the army of cops and the delegations of the G20 member states finally left Hamburg. [8][9][10], EKO Cobra also is assisting in the manhunt of the remaining suspect who was involved in the 2020 Vienna attack. Of those who are on hand, Germany's counter-terrorist GSG9 force will be assisted by Austria's counterpart Cobra and specialists from the Netherlands and other countries, Meyer said. "Greenpeace stands for non-violent direct action – we have peace in our name – and it would be a shame if violence moved the message away from what the G20 should be doing on climate and other issues," Morgan said. This site uses cookies. Austria also deployed their Police Special Forces unit EKO Cobra to assist the German police. Agenda. Besides the courses taught in the basic training, further specialization is possible in fields, such as parachuting, diving, explosives, or sniping. EKO Cobra also is assisting in the manhunt of the remaining suspect who was involved in the 2020 Vienna attack. hottehue is an independent artist creating amazing designs for great products such as t-shirts, stickers, posters, and phone cases. [5][6][7], In 2017, 20 EKO Cobra operatives were directly involved to end the severe riots in the Schanzenviertel area during the G20 Hamburg summit, three operatives were wounded. EKO Cobra is armed mainly with Austrian weaponry, but sometimes foreign-produced arms are used too. On 17 October 1996, four Cobra officers were on board an Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154 escorting deported prisoners to Lagos when a Nigerian man threatened the cockpit crew with a knife and demanded a diversion to Germany or South Africa. Hamburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told community organisers in Hamburg that she understood the importance of demonstrations to express criticism and concerns, but urged that they remain non-violent. Putin Trump handshake became the key photo moment a t the G20 summit held in Hamburg, Germany. Die Hamburger Polizei hat das Ausmaß der Gewaltausbrüche beim G20-Gipfel unterschätzt. Apart from necessary and legitimate resistance against social injustice and capitalism, its important to know that the German state did everything they could to escalate the NoG20 protests. EKO Cobra competed in the 2011 Annual Warrior Competition winning top honors. The determining step of founding today's Cobra as a unit of the Ministry of the Interior rather than a regional police unit was done in 1978, primarily as a response to the Munich massacre attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Germany’s counterterrorist GSG9 force will be assisted by Austria’s counterpart Cobra and specialists from the Netherlands and other countries, Hamburg police chief Ralf Martin Meyer told AP news agency. The G20 summit will take place in Hamburg between July 7- 8. Mass protests during Hamburg G20 summit likely to include violence; terrorism risk heightened, especially outside security zone Published: 30 June 2017 The meeting of the world’s most influential leaders and their delegations at the G20 summit in Hamburg on 7 and 8 July is likely to attract at least 100,000 protestors. 30.07.2017 - Police Special Forces G20 2017 Hamburg, Germany.