Grupo Especial de Operaciones
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The Grupo Especial de Operaciones (GEO) ("Special Operations Group") is part of the Spanish National Police and is stationed in Guadalajara near the capital, Madrid. The GEO has special response capabilities and is responsible for VIP protection duties, as well as countering and responding to terrorism. Designed, set up and organized along the lines of many other special counterterrorism units through Europe, GEO is specifically focused on dealing with terrorist attacks, including aircraft hijackings as well as maritime threats and hostage taking. The GEO can also be utilized in a support role for Spanish police operations outside the realm of terrorism, and is active in protecting visiting heads of state and providing security for high profile events such as the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona.
GEO has had some noteworthy successes over the last decade. It was responsible for foiling the assassination attempt on King Juan Carlos in 1995, as well as an attempt by ETA to attack the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. GEO remains the foremost deterrent to terror cells and activity on the Spanish mainland.
Its only casualty as of 2004 occurred during the assault (3 April) on the Leganés flat where the suspected authors of the Madrid train bombings of 11 March 2004 were grouped. The suspects detonated their bombs, committing suicide and severely damaging the building.
External links
- La web del GEO, related website (in Spanish) (http://www.iespana.es/lawebdelgeo)ca:GEO