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{{Short description|Austrian police tactical unit}}
{{about|the Austrian police tactical unit|the EKO Cobra guitar|Eko guitars}}
{{about|the Austrian police tactical unit|the EKO Cobra guitar|Eko guitars}}
{{distinguish|Cobra 11|Commando Battalion for Resolute Action}}
{{distinguish|Cobra 11|Commando Battalion for Resolute Action}}
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
{{Infobox law enforcement unit
| unit_name = {{native name|de|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}
| unit_name = {{native name|de-AT|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}
| native_name = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| native_name = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| native_namea = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
| native_namea = <!-- Use {{native name|language code|name}} -->
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| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Patch of EKO Cobra
| caption = Patch of EKO Cobra
| dates = 1978-present
| dates = 1978–present
| country = [[Austria]]
| country = [[Austria]]
| agency = [[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]]
| agency = [[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]]
| type = [[Police tactical unit]]
| type = [[Police tactical unit]]
| role = {{Plainlist}}
| role =
⚫
| ops_juris = National
* [[Counter-terrorism]]
* [[Law enforcement]]
{{Endplainlist}}
⚫
| ops_juris =
| command_structure =
| command_structure =
| headquarters_label =
| headquarters_label =
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}}
}}


'''EKO Cobra''' ({{lang-de|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}) is the [[police tactical unit]] of the Austrian [[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]]. EKO Cobra is not part of the [[Federal Police (Austria)|Austrian Federal Police]], but instead is directly under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
'''EKO Cobra''' ({{langx|de-AT|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}; "Task Force Cobra") is the tier one police tactical unit of the Austrian [[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]]. EKO Cobra is not part of the [[Federal Police (Austria)|Austrian Federal Police]], but instead is directly under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in locations at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and tactical special operations.


==History==
==History==
Line 59: Line 59:
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.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}} 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.<ref name="Gendarmeriekommando">{{cite journal |url=https://www.academia.edu/4142145 |title=Vom "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" zur "Cobra": Der Aufbau der Österreichischen Antiterrorkräfte |trans-title=From the "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" to the "Cobra": The Build-Up of Austria’s Counterterrorism Forces |first=Thomas |last=Riegler |journal=Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies |volume=7 |number=1 |year=2013 |pages=116–138 |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>
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.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}} 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.<ref name="Gendarmeriekommando">{{cite journal |url=https://www.academia.edu/4142145 |title=Vom "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" zur "Cobra": Der Aufbau der Österreichischen Antiterrorkräfte |trans-title=From the "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" to the "Cobra": The Build-Up of Austria’s Counterterrorism Forces |first=Thomas |last=Riegler |journal=Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies |volume=7 |number=1 |year=2013 |pages=116–138 |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>


The name ''Cobra'' was coined by the press. It was a reference to the US TV series ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'' that was aired in German under the title ''Kobra, übernehmen Sie''. It first appeared in June 1973 in the ''[[Kronen Zeitung]]''.<ref name="Gendarmeriekommando"/>
The name ''Cobra'' was coined by the press. It was a reference to the US TV series ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'', which was aired in German under the title ''Kobra, übernehmen Sie''. It first appeared in June 1973 in the ''[[Kronen Zeitung]]''.<ref name="Gendarmeriekommando"/>


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 [[Israel]]i athletes at the [[1972 Munich Olympics]]. Its main office is in [[Wiener Neustadt]], with sub-offices in [[Graz]], [[Linz]], [[Salzburg]], and [[Innsbruck]]. GSG-9 and Sayeret Matkal trained the first operators of the GEK.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}
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 [[Israel]]i athletes at the [[1972 Munich Olympics]]. Its main office is in [[Wiener Neustadt]], with sub-offices in [[Graz]], [[Linz]], [[Salzburg]], and [[Innsbruck]]. GSG-9 and [[Sayeret Matkal]] trained the first operators of the GEK.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}


The Federal Ministry of the Interior changed the unit's name from GEK to EKO Cobra in 2002.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}
The Federal Ministry of the Interior changed the unit's name from GEK to EKO Cobra in 2002.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}


The 450 men{{fact|date=November 2020}} of EKO Cobra have trained with some{{which|date=February 2013}} of the most elite [[special forces]] units.
The 450 men{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} of EKO Cobra have trained with some{{which|date=February 2013}} of the most elite [[special forces]] units.


===Known operations===
===Known operations===
EKO Cobra was involved in a hostage rescue in the [[Graz-Karlau Prison]] in 1996, and numerous other operations. Although it has never participated in the same type of [[hostage rescue]] operations that the [[Hostage Rescue Team|HRT]], [[National Gendarmerie Intervention Group|GIGN]], [[Gruppo di Intervento Speciale|GIS]], [[National Security Guards|NSG]], [[Garda Emergency Response Unit|ERU]], [[GSG 9]], and the [[Special Air Service|SAS]] have had, the EKO Cobra is the only Counter-Terrorism unit to end a hijacking while the aircraft was still in the air. 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. The team overpowered the man and handed him over to authorities after landing.<ref>https://www.bmi.gv.at/207/Publikationen/files/Air_Marshals.pdf</ref>
EKO Cobra was involved in a hostage rescue in the [[Graz-Karlau Prison]] in 1996, and numerous other operations. Although it has never participated in the same type of hostage rescue operations that the [[Hostage Rescue Team|HRT]], [[National Gendarmerie Intervention Group|GIGN]], [[Gruppo di Intervento Speciale|GIS]], [[National Security Guards|NSG]], [[Garda Emergency Response Unit|ERU]], [[GSG 9]], and the [[Special Air Service|SAS]] have had, the EKO Cobra is the only Counter-Terrorism unit to end a hijacking while the aircraft was still in the air. 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. The team overpowered the man and handed him over to authorities after landing.<ref>https://www.bmi.gv.at/207/Publikationen/files/Air_Marshals.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>


In the course of the [[2006 Lebanon War]] EKO Cobra assisted in the evacuation of Austrians and other EU citizens from Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oe-journal.at/Aktuelles/!2006/0806/W1/20408bmi.htm|title = ÖJ-Österreich-Woche 01.08.2006-07.08.2006}}</ref>
In the course of the [[2006 Lebanon War]] EKO Cobra assisted in the evacuation of Austrians and other EU citizens from Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oe-journal.at/Aktuelles/!2006/0806/W1/20408bmi.htm|title = ÖJ-Österreich-Woche 01.08.2006-07.08.2006}}</ref>
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135 EKO Cobra operatives together with units of the [[Austrian Armed Forces]] were involved in the search for Alois Huber in the [[2013 Annaberg shooting|Annaberg shooting]], who killed three police officers and one [[Red Cross]] [[Emergency medical technician|EMT]] on 17 September 2013, in Lower Austria.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Loinig |first1=Matthias |title=Charred body of Austrian gunman found in bunker of house |url=http://austriantimes.at/image/37609/news/General_News/2013-09-18/49835/Charred_body_of__Austrian_gunman_found_in_bunker_of_house_ |newspaper=Austrian Times |access-date=9 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210000353/http://austriantimes.at/image/37609/news/General_News/2013-09-18/49835/Charred_body_of__Austrian_gunman_found_in_bunker_of_house_ |archive-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>
135 EKO Cobra operatives together with units of the [[Austrian Armed Forces]] were involved in the search for Alois Huber in the [[2013 Annaberg shooting|Annaberg shooting]], who killed three police officers and one [[Red Cross]] [[Emergency medical technician|EMT]] on 17 September 2013, in Lower Austria.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Loinig |first1=Matthias |title=Charred body of Austrian gunman found in bunker of house |url=http://austriantimes.at/image/37609/news/General_News/2013-09-18/49835/Charred_body_of__Austrian_gunman_found_in_bunker_of_house_ |newspaper=Austrian Times |access-date=9 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210000353/http://austriantimes.at/image/37609/news/General_News/2013-09-18/49835/Charred_body_of__Austrian_gunman_found_in_bunker_of_house_ |archive-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>


In 2016, 42 officers supported the German Police in the [[2016 Munich shooting|Munich shooting]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tirol.orf.at/news/stories/2787303/ |title=Tiroler Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz |trans-title=Tyrolean Cobra officers in action in Munich |date=23 July 2016 |website=[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://diepresse.com/home/ausland/aussenpolitik/5055979/42-CobraBeamte-in-Muenchen-im-Einsatz |title=42 Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz |trans-title=42 Cobra officers in action in Munich |date=23 July 2016 |newspaper=[[Die Presse]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2017/05_06/files/sondereinheiten.pdf |first=Gregor |last=Wenda |title=Gemeinsame Terrorbekämpfung |trans-title=Joint Counter-Terrorism |journal=Sondereinheiten |publisher=[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]] |date=2017 |pages=11–16 |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>
In 2016, 42 officers supported the German police in the [[2016 Munich shooting|Munich shooting]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tirol.orf.at/news/stories/2787303/ |title=Tiroler Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz |trans-title=Tyrolean Cobra officers in action in Munich |date=23 July 2016 |website=[[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://diepresse.com/home/ausland/aussenpolitik/5055979/42-CobraBeamte-in-Muenchen-im-Einsatz |title=42 Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz |trans-title=42 Cobra officers in action in Munich |date=23 July 2016 |newspaper=[[Die Presse]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bmi.gv.at/magazinfiles/2017/05_06/files/sondereinheiten.pdf |first=Gregor |last=Wenda |title=Gemeinsame Terrorbekämpfung |trans-title=Joint Counter-Terrorism |journal=Sondereinheiten |publisher=[[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Federal Ministry of the Interior]] |date=2017 |pages=11–16 |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>


In 2017, 20 EKO Cobra operatives were directly involved to end the severe riots in the [[Schanzenviertel]] area during the [[2017 G20 Hamburg summit|G20 Hamburg summit]], three operatives were wounded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article211177971/Oesterreichische-Cobra-im-Einsatz.html |title=Österreichische "Cobra" im Einsatz |first1=Christian |last1=Unger |first2=Julia |last2=Emmrich |date=9 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://diepresse.com/home/ausland/aussenpolitik/5248761/Drei-Oesterreicher-verletzt_Deutsche-Polizei-fuerchtet-neue |title=Drei Österreicher verletzt: Deutsche Polizei fürchtet neue Eskalation |newspaper=Die Presse |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/g-20-cobra-und-wega-an-vorderster-front/274.559.796 |title=G-20: Cobra und Wega "an vorderster Front" |first=Stefan |last=Hofer |date=11 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Kurier]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>
In 2017, 20 EKO Cobra operatives were directly involved to end the severe riots in the [[Schanzenviertel]] area during the [[2017 G20 Hamburg summit|G20 Hamburg summit]], three operatives were wounded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/politik/article211177971/Oesterreichische-Cobra-im-Einsatz.html |title=Österreichische "Cobra" im Einsatz |first1=Christian |last1=Unger |first2=Julia |last2=Emmrich |date=9 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Berliner Morgenpost]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://diepresse.com/home/ausland/aussenpolitik/5248761/Drei-Oesterreicher-verletzt_Deutsche-Polizei-fuerchtet-neue |title=Drei Österreicher verletzt: Deutsche Polizei fürchtet neue Eskalation |newspaper=Die Presse |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/g-20-cobra-und-wega-an-vorderster-front/274.559.796 |title=G-20: Cobra und Wega "an vorderster Front" |first=Stefan |last=Hofer |date=11 July 2017 |newspaper=[[Kurier]] |access-date=28 December 2017 |language=de}}</ref>


EKO Cobra also is assisting in the manhunt of the remaining suspect who was involved in the [[2020 Vienna attack]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vindobona.org/article/terror-attack-in-vienna-perpetrator-was-sympathizer-of-the-islamic-state|title = Terror Attack in Vienna - Perpetrator Was Sympathizer of the Islamic State}}</ref>
EKO Cobra assisted in the manhunt of the remaining suspect who was involved in the [[2020 Vienna attack]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vindobona.org/article/terror-attack-in-vienna-perpetrator-was-sympathizer-of-the-islamic-state|title = Terror Attack in Vienna - Perpetrator Was Sympathizer of the Islamic State}}</ref>

EKO Cobra assisted with the arrest of suspects in the foiled [[2024 Vienna terrorism plot]], in which a concert by the American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] as part of [[The Eras Tour]] was targeted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taylor-swift-concert-terror-plot-austria-foiled-2-men-arrested-shows-w-rcna165591 |title=Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna canceled after Austrian police say foiled terrorist plot targeted shows |last1=Winter |first1=Tom |last2=Eckardt |first2=Andy |last3=Burke |first3=Minyvonne |last4=Cohen |first4=Rebecca |website=[[NBC News]] |date=August 8, 2024 |access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref>


{{See also|ATLAS Network}}
{{See also|ATLAS Network}}
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|-
|-
! colspan="7" |[[Submachine gun|Submachine Gun]]
! colspan="7" |[[Submachine gun|Submachine Gun]]
⚫
|-
|[[Uzi|UZI]]
|[[Israel]]
|[[Submachine gun|Submachine Gun]]
|[[9×19mm Parabellum|9x19mm]]
⚫
|
|
|Replaced by the HK MP5SD3 {{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}
|-
|-
|[[Steyr TMP]]
|[[Steyr TMP]]
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|
|
|[[File:MP5.jpg|frameless|118x118px]]
|[[File:MP5.jpg|frameless|118x118px]]
|Primarily used the MP5SD3 variant. {{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}} Replaced by the [[Brügger & Thomet APC|B&T APC9.]]{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}
⚫
|
|-
|-
|[[Heckler & Koch MP7|H&K MP7]]
|[[Heckler & Koch MP7|H&K MP7]]
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|[[4.6×30mm]]
|[[4.6×30mm]]
|
|
|[[File:H&K MP7.jpg|frameless|118x118px]]
|[[File:HK MP7 Bundeswehr noBG.png|frameless|118x118px]]
|Small number used for close protection ops.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=85}} Replaced by the B&T APC9.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=85}}
|Small number used for close protection ops.{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=85}} Replaced by the [[Brügger & Thomet APC|B&T APC9.]]{{sfn|Neville|2019|p=85}}
|-
|-
|[[Brügger & Thomet APC9|B&T APC9]]
|[[Brügger & Thomet APC9|B&T APC9]]
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|
|
|
|
|The weapon was developed in close coordination with the EKO Cobra unit. {{sfn|Neville|2019|p=84}}
⚫
|
|-
|-
! colspan="7" |'''[[Sniper rifle]]'''
! colspan="7" |'''[[Sniper rifle]]'''
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|12 gauge
|12 gauge
|
|
|[[File:SPAS-12 stock folded.jpg|frameless|118x118px]]
|[[File:SPAS 12 Fixed Stock and Folding Stock.JPG|frameless|118x118px]]
|
|
|-
|-
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During tactical operations the officers wear green or black coveralls along with their tactical gear.
During tactical operations the officers wear green or black coveralls along with their tactical gear.


==Annual Warrior Competition==
== Annual Warrior Competition ==
EKO Cobra competed in the 2011 [[Annual Warrior Competition]] winning top honors.<ref name="warriorcompetition.com">{{cite web |url=http://warriorcompetition.com/Pages/viewpage.aspx?pageID=25&ID=50 |title=3rd Annual Warrior Competition Event, 2011 |website=Warrior Competition |access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> EKO Cobra defeated a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[13th Marine Expeditionary Unit|13th MEU]] and a joint team from [[U.S. Army Special Forces]] [[5th Special Forces Group (United States)|5th Group]] and [[Joint Special Operations Command (Jordan)|Jordan SFG 101]] among many others.<ref name="warriorcompetition.com"/>
EKO Cobra competed in the 2011 [[Annual Warrior Competition]] winning top honors.<ref name="warriorcompetition.com">{{cite web |url=http://warriorcompetition.com/Pages/viewpage.aspx?pageID=25&ID=50 |title=3rd Annual Warrior Competition Event, 2011 |website=Warrior Competition |access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref> EKO Cobra defeated a [[United States Marine Corps]] [[13th Marine Expeditionary Unit|13th MEU]] and a joint team from [[U.S. Army Special Forces]] [[5th Special Forces Group (United States)|5th Group]] and [[Joint Special Operations Command (Jordan)|Jordan SFG 101]] among many others.<ref name="warriorcompetition.com"/>

== Ranks ==
{{main|Federal Police (Austria)#Ranks and rank insignia}}

These are the former ranks of EKO Cobra, before the current standard rank insignia were adopted in 2015.<ref name=Austria1>{{cite web |title=Uniform - Unterscheidungszeichen: Organe Des Öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes (Gem. § 5 Abs. 2 Zif. 3 UND 4 Spg) - Amtsärztlicher Dienst - Seelsorgedienst |trans-title=Uniform - distinguishing signs: Organs of the public security service (according to § 5 paragraph 2 number 3 AND 4 Spg) - official medical service - pastoral service |url=https://www.bmi.gv.at/Downloads/files/Distinktionen_Rechtsk_Aerzte_Seelsorger_2016.pdf |publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Bundesministerium für Inneres]] |access-date=4 February 2023 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219020841/https://www.bmi.gv.at/Downloads/files/Distinktionen_Rechtsk_Aerzte_Seelsorger_2016.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Austria2>{{cite web |title=Uniform-Unterscheidungszeichen (für Organe des öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes nach § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG ab 2015) |trans-title=Uniform distinctive signs (for bodies of the public security service according to § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG from 2015) |url=https://www.bmi.gv.at/Downloads/files/UniformUnterscheidungszeichenBundespolizei2016.pdf |publisher=[[Ministry of the Interior (Austria)|Bundesministerium für Inneres]] |access-date=5 September 2016 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424211946/http://www.bmi.gv.at/cms/BMI_Service/UniformUnterscheidungszeichenBundespolizei2016.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Distinktionen Cobra gesammelt.png|Ranks of EKO Cobra
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
Line 275: Line 294:


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
*{{in lang|de}} [http://www.bmi.gv.at/cobra/ Official website]

{{commons category|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}
{{commons category|Einsatzkommando Cobra}}
⚫
* [http://www.bmi.gv.at/cobra/ Official website] {{in lang|de}}


{{Law enforcement in Austria}}
{{Law enforcement in Austria}}


⚫
[[Category:Special forces of Austria]]
[[Category:Non-military counter-terrorist organizations]]
[[Category:Specialist law enforcement agencies of Austria]]
⚫
[[Category:Protective security units]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Austria]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Austria]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1978]]
[[Category:ATLAS Network]]
[[Category:ATLAS Network]]
⚫
[[Category:Police tactical units]]
⚫
[[Category:Special forces of Austria]]

Latest revision as of 15:26, 15 December 2024

This article is about the Austrian police tactical unit. For the EKO Cobra guitar, see Eko guitars.
Not to be confused with Cobra 11 or Commando Battalion for Resolute Action.
Einsatzkommando Cobra (Austrian German)
Patch of EKO Cobra
Active1978–present
CountryAustria
AgencyFederal Ministry of the Interior
TypePolice tactical unit
Operations jurisdictionNational
HeadquartersWiener Neustadt, Austria
Common nameEKO Cobra
Structure
Operators450

EKO Cobra (Austrian German: Einsatzkommando Cobra; "Task Force Cobra") is the tier one police tactical unit of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. EKO Cobra is not part of the Austrian Federal Police, but instead is directly under the control of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in locations at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and tactical special operations.

History

[edit]
Two members of EKO Cobra in operational loadout (historic).

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.[1] 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.[2]

The name Cobra was coined by the press. It was a reference to the US TV series Mission: Impossible, which was aired in German under the title Kobra, übernehmen Sie. It first appeared in June 1973 in the Kronen Zeitung.[2]

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. Its main office is in Wiener Neustadt, with sub-offices in Graz, Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. GSG-9 and Sayeret Matkal trained the first operators of the GEK.[1]

The Federal Ministry of the Interior changed the unit's name from GEK to EKO Cobra in 2002.[1]

The 450 men[citation needed] of EKO Cobra have trained with some[which?] of the most elite special forces units.

Known operations

[edit]

EKO Cobra was involved in a hostage rescue in the Graz-Karlau Prison in 1996, and numerous other operations. 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. 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. The team overpowered the man and handed him over to authorities after landing.[3]

In the course of the 2006 Lebanon War EKO Cobra assisted in the evacuation of Austrians and other EU citizens from Lebanon.[4]

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.[5]

In 2016, 42 officers supported the German police in the Munich shooting.[6][7][8]

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.[9][10][11]

EKO Cobra assisted in the manhunt of the remaining suspect who was involved in the 2020 Vienna attack.[12]

EKO Cobra assisted with the arrest of suspects in the foiled 2024 Vienna terrorism plot, in which a concert by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift as part of The Eras Tour was targeted.[13]

See also: ATLAS Network

Recruitment and training

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Officers of the EKO Cobra rope down a building

Any member of the Austrian Federal Police may apply to the EKO Cobra. The tests consist of medical examinations, psychological tests, and vigorous physical tests. 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. Besides the courses taught in the basic training, further specialization is possible in fields, such as parachuting, diving, explosives, or sniping.[14]

Since its establishment in 1978, 1,140 officers have served in EKO Cobra.[15]

Organization

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Locations of the EKO Cobra in Austria.

The unit's headquarters is located in Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria).[1] It performs all administrative activities and the training for the EKO Cobra officers. Further departments exist in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and Innsbruck with small field offices in Klagenfurt, Salzburg, and Feldkirch.[1]

Each department contains four teams and each field office contains two. This structure allows the units to be deployed anywhere in Austria in under 70 minutes.[16]

On 1 April 2013, EKO Cobra was merged in the newly established Special Operations Directorate - DSE (Direktion für Spezialeinheiten ).[17] This organisation serves as a unified command for the units with special tasks of the Austrian Federal Police.

Further units of the DSE are the police's bomb disposal units, the observation units and special investigative units.[18]

Equipment

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Weapons

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An officer of the Austrian counter-terrorism unit EKO Cobra handling a Steyr AUG rifle during an airborne operation (the aircraft is a Bell 206B Jet Ranger).

EKO Cobra is armed mainly with Austrian weaponry, but sometimes foreign-produced arms are used too.

Name Origin Type Calibre Quantity Photo Notes
Assault Rifle & Battle Rifle
Steyr AUG Austria Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm 3 variants:

Steyr AUG A1, Steyr AUG A2,[17] Steyr AUG A3

Pistol
Glock 17 Gen 3 Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Is the standard issue sidearm of EKO Cobra, sometimes equipped with a tactical flashlight.
Glock 18 Austria Machine pistol 9×19mm with select-fire capability (semi-automatic, fully automatic)
Glock 19 Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm
Manurhin MR 73 France Revolver Former sidearm, now replaced.[17]
Submachine Gun
UZI Israel Submachine Gun 9x19mm Replaced by the HK MP5SD3 [1]
Steyr TMP Austria Submachine Gun 9×19mm
H&K MP5A3 Germany Submachine Gun 9×19mm Primarily used the MP5SD3 variant. [1] Replaced by the B&T APC9.[1]
H&K MP7 Germany Submachine Gun 4.6×30mm Small number used for close protection ops.[17] Replaced by the B&T APC9.[17]
B&T APC9 Switzerland Submachine Gun 9×19mm The weapon was developed in close coordination with the EKO Cobra unit. [1]
Sniper rifle
Steyr SSG 69 Austria Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm including sound-suppressed variant
PGM Hécate II France Anti-materiel rifle .50 BMG
Shotgun
Remington 870 United States Pump-action shotgun 12 gauge
Franchi SPAS-12 Italy Combat shotgun 12 gauge
H&K HK512 Germany Semi-automatic shotgun 12 gauge
Grenade launcher
H&K HK69A1 Germany Grenade launcher 40mm

Special equipment

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EKO Cobra use a variety of equipment designed for a variety of situations.

Uniforms

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EKO Cobra officers wear the uniform of the Austrian Federal Police with certain modifications:

  • 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

During tactical operations the officers wear green or black coveralls along with their tactical gear.

Annual Warrior Competition

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EKO Cobra competed in the 2011 Annual Warrior Competition winning top honors.[19] 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.[19]

Ranks

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Main article: Federal Police (Austria) § Ranks and rank insignia

These are the former ranks of EKO Cobra, before the current standard rank insignia were adopted in 2015.[20][21]

  • Ranks of EKO Cobra
    Ranks of EKO Cobra

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Neville 2019, p. 84.
  2. ^ a b Riegler, Thomas (2013). "Vom "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" zur "Cobra": Der Aufbau der Österreichischen Antiterrorkräfte" [From the "Gendarmeriekommando Bad Vöslau" to the "Cobra": The Build-Up of Austria’s Counterterrorism Forces]. Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies (in German). 7 (1): 116–138. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  3. ^ https://www.bmi.gv.at/207/Publikationen/files/Air_Marshals.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "ÖJ-Österreich-Woche 01.08.2006-07.08.2006".
  5. ^ Loinig, Matthias. "Charred body of Austrian gunman found in bunker of house". Austrian Times. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Tiroler Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz" [Tyrolean Cobra officers in action in Munich]. ORF (in German). 23 July 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  7. ^ "42 Cobra-Beamte in München im Einsatz" [42 Cobra officers in action in Munich]. Die Presse (in German). 23 July 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  8. ^ Wenda, Gregor (2017). "Gemeinsame Terrorbekämpfung" [Joint Counter-Terrorism] (PDF). Sondereinheiten (in German). Federal Ministry of the Interior: 11–16. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  9. ^ Unger, Christian; Emmrich, Julia (9 July 2017). "Österreichische "Cobra" im Einsatz". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Drei Österreicher verletzt: Deutsche Polizei fürchtet neue Eskalation". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  11. ^ Hofer, Stefan (11 July 2017). "G-20: Cobra und Wega "an vorderster Front"". Kurier (in German). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Terror Attack in Vienna - Perpetrator Was Sympathizer of the Islamic State".
  13. ^ Winter, Tom; Eckardt, Andy; Burke, Minyvonne; Cohen, Rebecca (August 8, 2024). "Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna canceled after Austrian police say foiled terrorist plot targeted shows". NBC News. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Spiegel TV Spezial: Einsatzkommando Cobra - Ausbildung einer Elite-Einheit. Fernsehreportage, 2006.
  15. ^ "30 Jahre "Cobra"" (PDF). Federal Ministry of the Interior (in German). Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Österreichische Sondereinheit: Cobra, übernehmen Sie!". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 26 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  17. ^ a b c d e Neville 2019, p. 85.
  18. ^ "Einsatzkommando Cobra / Direktion für Spezialeinheiten".
  19. ^ a b "3rd Annual Warrior Competition Event, 2011". Warrior Competition. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Uniform - Unterscheidungszeichen: Organe Des Öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes (Gem. § 5 Abs. 2 Zif. 3 UND 4 Spg) - Amtsärztlicher Dienst - Seelsorgedienst" [Uniform - distinguishing signs: Organs of the public security service (according to § 5 paragraph 2 number 3 AND 4 Spg) - official medical service - pastoral service] (PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium für Inneres. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Uniform-Unterscheidungszeichen (für Organe des öffentlichen Sicherheitsdienstes nach § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG ab 2015)" [Uniform distinctive signs (for bodies of the public security service according to § 5 Abs. 1 Z 1 SPG from 2015)] (PDF) (in German). Bundesministerium für Inneres. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.

Bibliography

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  • Neville, Leigh (2019). The Elite: The A–Z of Modern Special Operations Forces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472824295.
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