Terrorism101 Home Page : Counter Terrorism : Norway - FSK
FSK
Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) - Special Commando of the Defense
Headquarters: Trondheim, Norway (moving to Rena in Hedmark)
Formed: 1982
The Norwegian unit trains for counterterrorist actions mainly against oil rigs, which Norway has in abundance. FSK is not limited to this activity, however, and also trains for operations on airplanes, trains, and buildings. FSK are on 24 hour alert, however are held mostly in reserve in case the police should require special assistance. Another of their missions is also to protect the royal family, the government and the national assembly.
Norwegian special was started in 1982 and was placed under the Norwegian Army Jegercommand, based at the Army's parachute school in Norway. The actual unit is headquartered at Trandum in Akershus approximately 60 kilometers north of Oslo. In 1997, FSK is scheduled to relocate to Rena in Hedmark. These early parachuting skills were later augmentend by advanced combat diving training.
Once a year the FSK participates in counterterrorist exercises (code-named Gemini) at various locations. In 1996, these operations were conducted at an oil-rig named Heidrun outside Trondheim. They also train on Norwegian cruise-ships and ferrys between Norway and the European continent. During time of war, their main mission is one of long range reconnaissance in the north of Norway, mainly in Finmark. The unit received its initial training from the British SAS in the first years. There two units maintain a strong relationship and participate in a mutual, annual exchange program. FSK officers also undergo advanced training at the Long Range Reconnaisance school at Weingarten, Germany. Today, FSK operatives are recruited exclusively from the Army Jegercommand and Marinejegertropp Naval commando troop and serve on an average of four to five years.
It was reported in the Norwegian press in 1994 that FSK operatives had participated with the SAS in Northern Ireland, although the Government refused to confirm or deny this activity. In 1995, a small element from the unit was deployed to the Kasmir region of India in an effort to locate and retrieve a Norwegian citizen that was held hostage, and later beheaded, by the Al-Faran guerrillas.
Terrorism101 Home Page : Counter Terrorism : Norway - FSK
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