View source for SEK (Germany)

{{Short description|Police tactical units of each German state}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name              = ''Spezialeinsatzkommando''
| native_name            = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| native_namea           = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| native_namer           = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| image                  =
| image_size             =
| alt                    =
| caption                =
| dates                  = 1974–present
| country                = {{flag|Germany}}
| agency                 = ''[[Landespolizei]]'' (State police)
| type                   = [[Police tactical unit]]
| role                   = 
| ops_juris              =
| command_structure      =
| headquarters           = 
| coordinates            =
| motto                  =
| motto_translated       = 
| common_name            = 
| abbreviation           = SEK
<!-- Structure -->
| sworn_type_label       = 
| sworn                  = 
| unsworn_type_label     = 
| unsworn                = 
| subunit_type_label     =
| subunits               =
| station_type_label     = 
| stations               =
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander      =
| notable_commanders     = 
<!-- Notables --> 
| programs               = <!-- or | programmes = -->
| significant_operations = 
| anniversaries          =
| awards                 = 
<!-- Equipment -->
| vehicles               = 
| boats                  = 
| aircraft               = 
| animals                = 
<!--Website --> 
| website                =
}}

'''''Spezialeinsatzkommando''''' ('''SEK''', "Special Task Force") are police tactical units of each of the 16 German [[Landespolizei|state police]] forces that specialize in a quick response with SWAT unit tactics to emergencies. Along with the ''Mobiles Einsatzkommando'' (MEK), ''Personenschutzkommando''<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.nw.de/lokal/bielefeld/mitte/mitte/3534012_Die-Schattenmaenner.html|title=Die Schattenmänner|first=VON JENS|last=REICHENBACH|website=Nw.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> ([[bodyguard]]s), and the ''Verhandlungsgruppe'' (negotiation teams in some states), they are part of the police ''Spezialeinheiten'' (special operations units) of each state force.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aufgabenspektrum der Spezialeinheiten |url=https://polizei.brandenburg.de/seite/aufgabenspektrum-der-spezialeinheiten/60732 |website=Polizei Brandenburg |access-date=12 September 2020 |language=de |date=11 November 2015}}</ref>

Mainly unrecognized by the media and public, the main missions of SEK units include providing paramilitary operations in urban areas, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, high-risk law enforcement situations, hostage rescue crisis management, serving of high-risk arrest warrants, supporting counterterrorism activities, and raids, as well as other scenarios like providing personal security details for VIPs or witnesses. Since the 1970s, each SEK has handled several thousand deployments. The front-runner is the SEK of the Berlin Police with up to 500 deployments a year, an average of 1.4 deployments a day.

The comparable unit of the [[Federal Police (Germany)|German Federal Police]] is the [[GSG 9]].

==History==
[[File:SEK-Einsatz vom Schlauchboot (10584688934).jpg|thumb|right|300px|SEK operators raid a hijacked ship during a public exhibition]]

In 1974, the first SEK unit was raised in the state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]'s police force.<ref name="Welt">{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/article1870233/Was-hinter-dem-Spezialeinsatzkommando-steckt.html|title=SEK: Was hinter dem Spezialeinsatzkommando steckt|date=4 April 2008|newspaper=Die Welt|access-date=19 July 2018|via=www.welt.de}}</ref>

After West and East Germany were unified in 1990, some ex-officers of the ''[[Diensteinheit IX]]'' (DIX) in the [[Volkspolizei]] were merged into the SEKs after thorough political evaluation procedures, such as with SEK units in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319232253/http://www.sek-einsatz.net/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-mecklenburg-vorpommern|archive-date=2012-03-19|url=http://www.sek-einsatz.net/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-mecklenburg-vorpommern|title=Spezialeinheiten der Polizei - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|access-date=2014-04-27|language=de|publisher=SEK Einsatz}}</ref> and Sachsen-Anhalt.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330154006/http://sek-einsatz.de/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-sachsen-anhalt|archive-date=2012-03-30|url=http://sek-einsatz.de/spezialeinheiten/sek-laenderuebersicht/spezialeinheiten-der-polizei-sachsen-anhalt|title=Spezialeinheiten der Polizei Sachsen-Anhalt|language=de|access-date=2014-04-27|publisher=SEK Team}}</ref>

The SEK received a name change from ''Sondereinsatzkommando'' to ''Spezialeinsatzkommando'' in 2013, because the former is usually associated with ''Sondereinsatzkommando [[Adolf Eichmann|Eichmann]]'', a unit in the Nazi ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' (SS) tasked with overseeing the [[History of the Jews in Hungary#Deportation to Auschwitz|deportation of Hungary's Jewish residents]].<ref>New Lives: Survivors of the Holocaust Living in America by Dorothy Rabinowitz, page 183</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holokausztmagyarorszagon.hu/index.php?section=1&chapter=4_1_1&type=content|title=A HOLOKAUSZT MAGYARORSZAGON|website=Holokausztmagyarorszagon.hu|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, the SEK was called in to intervene in Erfurt, Thuringia after a 48-year-old man barricaded himself in his apartment and acted violently towards emergency medical personnel. A SEK operative was wounded during the raid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/web/zgt/leben/detail/-/specific/Mann-bei-SEK-Einsatz-in-Erfurt-erschossen-157671528|title=Mann bei SEK-Einsatz in Erfurt erschossen|website=Thueringer-allgemeine.de| date=December 2015 |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

In 2015, the SEK Cologne was accused of harassment while performing an initiation ritual on a new member.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/nach-folterskandal-in-koeln-polizeiforscher-darum-sind-demuetigende-aufnahmerituale-beim-sek-lebensnotwendig_id_4775931.html|title=Polizeiforscher: Darum sind demütigende Aufnahmerituale beim SEK lebensnotwendig|website=Focus.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> These charges were later dropped. Ex-GSG9 commander Ulrich Wegener accused the SEK of being poorly disciplined since the officers were not punished.<ref name="Immer">{{cite web|url=http://www.focus.de/panorama/immer-wieder-aerger-nach-foltervorwuerfen-koelner-sek-kommando-ist-bekannt-fuer-schlechte-disziplin_id_4776990.html|title=Nach Foltervorwürfen: Kölner SEK-Kommando ist bekannt für schlechte Disziplin|website=Focus.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> A [[Reichsbürgerbewegung]] supporter was confronted by the police in 2016 in Bavaria with the SEK deployed. One operative was shot dead after they were ordered to seize the man's weapons due to him being mentally unfit to handle them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/bavarian-policeman-dies-after-battle-with-far-right-gunman/a-36096814|title=Bavarian policeman dies after battle with far-right gunman|website=Dw.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/einsatz-in-georgensgmuend-polizist-stirbt-nach-schuessen.1818.de.html?dram:article_id=369029|title=Einsatz in Georgensgmünd - Polizist stirbt nach Schüssen von Reichsbürger|website=Deutschlandfunk.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

On June 10, 2021, Interior Minister for the state of Hesse Peter Beuth announced that its SEK unit in Frankfurt would be disbanded, as some of its operators were reported to be sharing alt-right messages.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-frankfurt-police-unit-to-be-disbanded-over-far-right-chats/a-57840014 | title=Germany: Frankfurt police unit to be disbanded – DW – 06/10/2021 | website=[[Deutsche Welle]] }}</ref>

==Organization==
The organization of special police forces varies from state to state. Whilst most states have created one SEK which is based in their capital city, others have more than one.<ref name="SEK">{{cite web|url=https://sek-einsatz.de/spezialeinheiten/sek-das-spezialeinsatzkommando-2/9852|title=SEK - Das Spezialeinsatzkommando|website=Sek-einsatz.de| date=6 November 2013 |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> The [[North Rhine-Westphalia Police]] and [[Rheinland-Pfalz State Police]] have established SEKs in other major cities as needed.<ref name="SEK"/> The [[Bavarian State Police]] and [[Hessen State Police]] both have two SEKs – one each for the north and the south.

Most SEKs have 40 to 70 operatives attached, depending on the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3.kleine-anfragen.de/ka-prod/sn/6/3674.pdf|title=Kleine Anfrage des Abgeordneten Andre Schollbach, Fraktion DIE LINKE: Drs.-Nr. : 6/3674 : Thema: Spezialeinsatekommando (SEK) des Landeskriminalamtes Sachse|website=S3.kleine-anfragen.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

A SEK unit can be attached to the ''[[Bereitschaftspolizei]]'' [[riot police]] or to larger regional police headquarters. However, the common trend is to put the SEK units under the control of the ''[[Landeskriminalamt]]'' (State Criminal Investigation Office, LKA).<ref name="Welt"/> Many LKA have special divisions which consist of the SEK, MEK and crisis negotiation teams.

The internal organisation of SEKs rests with the units and therefore differs as well.

The SEK of South Bavaria has an [[Alps|alpine]] component and the SEK units of [[Bremen]] and [[Hamburg]] have elements trained for maritime tasks. Some SEKs also have specialized negotiation groups (''Verhandlungsgruppen'', commonly abbreviated as VGs) for cases like hostage situations or suicide attempts.<ref name="Types">{{cite web|url=https://sek-einsatz.de/nachrichten-sek-einsaetze/sondereinsatzkommandos-bei-der-polizei-nrw/8639|title=Sondereinsatzkommandos bei der Polizei NRW? + + + UPDATE |website=Sek-einsatz.de|date=23 February 2013 |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>

==Eligibility and training==
Any state police officer is eligible to apply for service in a SEK unit, but it is common only to consider applications from officers with at least three years of duty experience.<ref name="Welt"/> The age limit is mostly between 23 and 35 years, whilst operatives have to leave the entry teams when they reach the age of 42 (or 45 in some states).<ref name="Welt"/> Both sexes are eligible to apply.

At the moment, only the SEK units of [[Hamburg]],<ref name="info" group="note">The SEK-equivalent unit in Hamburg is also called MEK.</ref> [[Schleswig-Holstein]], and central [[Hesse]] have women in their ranks.

The requirements demand physical and mental strength, discernment, and capacity for teamwork.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sondereinheiten.de/einheiten/sek/einstellung/ |title=Sondereinheiten.de - Einheiten - SEK - Spezialeinsatzkommandos der deutschen Polizei - Einstellung |access-date=2017-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011111809/http://www.sondereinheiten.de/einheiten/sek/einstellung/ |archive-date=2017-10-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> About 30 percent of all candidates pass the tests. The length of the training necessary to become an operative in a SEK unit differs but is generally five to eight months long and covers a wide range of required skills.<ref name="Welt"/> Some training requires SEK operators to train with other police forces in Europe and North America.<ref name="SEK"/>

All applications to join the SEK are made online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traumberuf-polizei.de/berufsbild-polizist/spezialeinsatzkommando/|title=Polizist beim Spezialeinsatzkommando/ SEK - Traumberuf Polizei|website=Traumberuf-polizei.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> SEK operators usually get a stipend between 150 and 400 Euros, depending on the state police force where they work in.<ref name="SEK"/>

==Equipment==
[[File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567279434).jpg|thumb|right|300px|SEK operators practice assaulting a building, armed with training weapons]]
While firearms are still issued by the forces, SEK officers can order equipment they feel are suited best for missions. The following weapons are used by SEK:

{|class=wikitable border="0" width="100%"
|-
! width="25%"| Name
! width="25%"| Country of origin
! width="25%"| Type 
! Notes
|-
| [[Korth]]|| {{GER}} || rowspan="2" | [[Revolver]]|| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/06/26/tactical-revolver-in-germany/ |title=Tactical Revolver in Germany - The Firearm Blog |date=26 June 2012 |website=Thefirearmblog.com |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Smith & Wesson Model 625]]|| {{USA}} || Used by Northrhine-Westphalia SEK operatives with suppressors<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009/03/03/sw-625-fully-suppressed-revolver/|title=S&W 625 fully suppressed revolver - The Firearm Blog|date=3 March 2009|website=Thefirearmblog.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Glock 17]]|| {{AUT}} || rowspan="7" | [[Semi-automatic pistol]]|| Seen in use by Berlin SEK<ref name="BILD">{{cite web|url=http://www.bild.de/themen/organisationen/spezialeinsatzkommando/politik-nachrichten-news-fotos-videos-02-42509142.bild.html|title=SEK - Spezialeinsatzkommando - Elite-Polizisten im Einsatz|website=bild.de|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch VP9]]|| rowspan="11" | {{GER}} || Seen in use by Saxony SEK<ref name="ATP">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/01/18/anti-terror-package-german-police-haenel-cr223-ar15-hk-sfp9/|title=Anti-terror package to the German Police, with more Haenel CR223 (AR15) and HK SFP9 - The Firearm Blog|date=18 January 2017|website=Thefirearmblog.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch P30]]|| Used by Hesse State Police and Federal Police MFE (covert commando)
|-
| [[SIG P226]]|| <ref name="BILD" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dienstwaffen.di.funpic.de/herstellersasi/sigsauer/5119799b3a0d9fb07.html|title=P226|website=Dienstwaffen.di.funpic.de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103223528/http://dienstwaffen.di.funpic.de/herstellersasi/sigsauer/5119799b3a0d9fb07.html|archive-date=2013-11-03|access-date=2011-08-06}}</ref>
|-
| [[SIG P228]]|| <ref name="BILD" />
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch USP]]||
|-
| [[Walther PDP]]|| Seen holstered during response to [[Wuppertal]] school stabbing by the Northrhine-Westphalia SEK <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.reddit.com/r/policeporn/comments/1b4vxnj/germanys_spezialeinsatzkommando_sek_armed_with_fn/ | title=Germany's Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK) armed with FN SCAR-L CQC. North Rhine-Westphalia. February 22, 2024 &#91;2880×1800&#93; | date=2 March 2024 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch MP5]] || rowspan="3" | [[Submachine gun]] || <ref name="BILD"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/09/01/international-anti-terror-exercise-vienna/|title=International Anti-Terror exercise in Vienna - The Firearm Blog|date=1 September 2017|website=Thefirearmblog.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch MP7]] || rowspan="2" | <ref name="BILD" />
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch UMP]] 
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch G36]] || rowspan="6" | [[Assault rifle]]|| Used by Brandenburg SEK<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maz-online.de/Brandenburg/SEK-in-Brandenburg-erhaelt-G-36|title=Brandenburgs SEK erhält G36-Gewehre|website=MAZ - Märkische Allgemeine|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch HK416|Heckler & Koch G38]]  || 14.5 inch-model used by Hesse State Police<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://esut.de/2019/05/meldungen/innere-sicherheit/12786/hk-g38-fuer-hessen/ |title=HK G38 für Hessen – Mitteldistanzwaffen in zwei Konfigurationen |trans-title=HK G38 for Hessen - medium-range weapon in two configurations |language=de |first=Jan-Phillipp |last=Weisswange |date=13 May 2019 |journal=Europäische Sicherheit & Technik |access-date=2019-05-15}}</ref>
|-
| [[FN SCAR]] || {{BEL}} || Mk 16<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/03/21/mystery-scar-16-german-dusseldorf-ax-attack/|title=Mystery SCAR 16 at the German Düsseldorf ax attack. - The Firearm Blog|date=21 March 2017|website=Thefirearmblog.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> and Mk 17<ref name="BILD"/> variants used
|-
| [[Steyr AUG]] || {{AUT}} || Used by Bavaria SEK<ref>Reinhard Scholzen: SEK, Spezialeinsatzkommandos der deutschen Polizei. 5. Auflage. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, {{ISBN|978-3-613-02016-0}}, S. 59.</ref>
|-
| [[Haenel MK 556|Haenel CR223]] || {{GER}} || Used by Hamburg SEKs/MEKs and Saxony SEKs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/21/hamburg-police-germany-issuing-hk-mp5-haenel-cr223-ar15/|title=Hamburg Police (Germany) issuing HK MP5 and Haenel CR223 (AR15) - The Firearm Blog|date=21 November 2016|website=Thefirearmblog.com|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="ATP"/>
|-
| [[SIG Sauer MCX]] || rowspan="3" | {{USA}} ||
|-
|[[Remington 870]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Shotgun]]
| rowspan="6" |<ref name=":0" />
|-
|[[Mossberg 500]]
|-
|[[Heckler & Koch HK512]]
|{{Flag|Germany}}
|-
|[[Benelli M3]]
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Italy}}
|-
|[[Benelli M4]]
|-
|[[Vepr-12]]
|{{Flag|Russia}}
|-
| [[Heckler & Koch PSG1]] || rowspan="4" | {{GER}} || rowspan="6" | [[Sniper rifle]] || <ref name="BILD"/>
|-
|[[Blaser R93 Tactical]] 
| rowspan="5" |<ref name=":0" />
|-
|[[TPG-1]]
|-
|[[DSR-Precision DSR-1]]
|-
|[[Accuracy International Arctic Warfare]] 
|{{Flag|United Kingdom}}
|-
|[[PGM Hécate II]]
|{{Flag|France}}
|}

The North Rhine-Westphalia SEK use Ford F-550 pickups modified to use MARS tactical ladders for raids on hard-to-reach places.<ref name="SEK"/> The Saxony Police use the [[RMMV Survivor R]]<ref name="First success for Survivor R">{{cite web |publisher=Rheinmetall AG |url= https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/rheinmetall_ag/press/news/latest_news/index_11072.php |title= First success for Survivor R|author= Rheinmetall AG |access-date= March 28, 2017}}</ref> and the Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with V8 engines as a first response vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sek-einsatz.de/spezialeinheiten-intern/modernere-ausruestung-fuer-die-polizei-sachsen/18438|title=Modernere Ausrüstung für die Polizei Sachsen |website=Sek-einsatz.de|date=11 January 2017 |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> The Brandenburg State Police and the [[Hamburg Police]] use the PMV Survivor I for its SEK units.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/brandenburg/brandenburger-elite-polizei-erhaelt-neuen-survivor-panzer_aid-6815365|title=Brandenburger Elite-Polizei erhält neuen "Survivor"-Panzer|website=Lausitzer Rundschau| date=10 November 2017 |access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref> The SEK of the [[Bavarian State Police]] uses the [[LAPV Enok]].

==Uniforms==
SEK members do not always operate in uniform but do wear masks to protect their identities, as well as to protect their bodies from burns.<ref name="SEK"/> If cited in a trial they are only referred to by numbers.

When off-duty SEK officers are called to a crime scene, they may appear plain-clothed, only wearing their special protective gear and carrying their weapons.

==Related units==
=== MEK ===
[[File:MEK BKA.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The MEK unit of the [[Federal Criminal Police Office (Germany)|Federal Criminal Police Office]] during a demonstration]]

''Mobile Einsatzkommandos'' (MEK)<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobiles Einsatzkommando |url=https://www.bka.de/DE/UnsereAufgaben/Ermittlungsunterstuetzung/MobilesEinsatzkommando/mobilesEinsatzkommando_node.html |website=Bundeskriminalamt |access-date=12 September 2020 |language=de}}</ref> operate hand-in-hand with the SEKs.

These plain-clothed units specialize in surveillance, quick arrests and mobile hostage sieges. They are used in investigations against organized crime, blackmailers or other serious offenses.

MEKs also provide close protection for a state's senior leaders, including the state's minister-president or interior minister. Requirements for duty as a MEK officer are similar but partially less strict than the requirements for the SEK.

== Images ==
<gallery>
File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567203075).jpg|
File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567177595).jpg|
File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567503113).jpg|
File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567441553).jpg|
File:Vorführung Spezialeinsatzkommando (10567174006).jpg|
File:SEK Mann auf dem Dach des Hotels Bayrischer Hof in Muenchen.jpg|
File:SEKBerlinEinsatz.jpg|
File:SEK-Einsatz vom Schlauchboot (10584915235).jpg|
File:SEK-Schnellboot (Schlauchboot) (10585073613).jpg|
File:Abseilen aus SEK-Hubschrauber (Eurocopter EC 155 Dauphin) (10584850666).jpg|
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Zentrale Unterstützungsgruppe Zoll]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Spezialeinsatzkommando|SEK}}

{{Law enforcement in Germany}}

[[Category:Police units of Germany]]
[[Category:Police tactical units]]
[[Category:ATLAS Network]]