| Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS | |
|---|---|
| Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS | |
 | |
| Active | 1991 – present |
| Country |  Lithuania |
| Agency | Lithuanian Police Force |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Operations jurisdiction | National |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
The ARAS, formally Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS (Lithuanian: Lietuvos policijos antiteroristinių operacijų rinktinė ARAS), is the police tactical unit of the Lithuanian Police Force, established in 1991.1
History
ARAS's initial purpose was to suppress organized crime groups that were operating in Lithuania in 1990s.2 In addition, they handled riot suppression, peace keeping, and escort.2
In December 2004, the unit was admitted into the ATLAS Network of police tactical units of the European Union countries.3
Aras does several hundred domestic and international operations in a typical year, most of which are never publicized.4
Structure
ARAS consists of a:
- Command,
- Special Team,
- Explosive Search and Neutralization Division,5
- Information, analysis and negotiation Division,
- 2 divisions, one of them located in Klaipėda.
The unit also has specialized CBRN defense, climber, combat medic, EOD, K-9, negotiation, reconnaissance, sniper, and tactical diver groups that are necessary to carry out the main functions ascribed to the unit.
Functions
The main functions of ARAS are to:
- organize, manage and implement special antiterrorist operations inside Lithuania;
- hostage rescue and detain dangerous armed criminals under extreme or high danger circumstances;
- search for and neutralize improvised explosive devices and military explosives, used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
- under their competence participate while performing various operative actions, detaining persons, suspected to have performed or planning to commit a crime;
- collect and analyze information related to terrorist threats, cooperate with professional institutions of other countries in this sphere;
- participate in organizing and implementing plans and programs for antiterrorist measures, and other legal acts establishing terrorism prevention.6
Equipment
ARAS operators use a variety of modern weapons, including:78
Aras equipment also includes armored vehicles, boats, helicopters and various aerial, land and naval drones.91011
References
References
- ►Lithuania police unit ARAS ||2019 4KHD, 12 January 2019, retrieved 2019-11-19
- Meers, Jelter. "Lithuania: Police Arrest 19 Gangsters, Find Guns and Explosives". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- "Annual Reports and Financials". www.atlasnetwork.org. Archived from the original on 2019-11-30. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ""Aro" darbas nepanašus į užsienio filmus". Diena.lt (in Lithuanian). 2011-03-31. Archived from the original on 2025-02-04. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
Keliose operacijose per 20 metų teko dalyvauti „Aro" pareigūnams, šiandien jau niekas suskaičiuoti negali, nes vien pernai, pasak V.Grabausko, rinktinės vyrai dalyvavo 206 kovinėse operacijose.
- "Lithuania | OSCE POLIS". polis.osce.org. Archived from the original on 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- "Capabilities | Aras | Enterprise PLM Software". www.aras.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- "Elitinis policijos padalinys "Aras" (3). Snaiperių ginkluotė ir įranga".
- "Iš arti – naujai atidaryta policijos elitinio padalinio "Aras" būstinė".
- "Tarnybos imitavo kibernetinę ataką: ant važiuojančio traukinio nusileido "Aras" sraigtasparnis". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). 2017-09-11. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- Jačauskas, Ignas (2017-06-11). "Policija perka robotą "Aro" išminavimo operacijoms". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- "Įgyvendinant projektą įsigyta įranga rinktinės "Aras" pareigūnų veiklai gerinti". Lietuvos policija (in Lithuanian). 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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