19.11.2015.

Preparations for the "Shield" exercise in Belgrade

On the occasion of the largest ever anti-terrorist demonstration exercises of all Serbian security services, at the confluence of two rivers in Belgrade and at the Central Railway Station preparatory activities are held today as well.

The joint activities include several hundred members of the Serbian Ministry of Interior, Serbian Armed Forces, BIA and other agencies. In the exercise "Shield" about 200 SAF members from the Special Brigade, 204th Air Brigade, Riverine Flotilla, the Guard and the military police battalion of special purpose "Cobras" are involved.

Today are presented demanding and complex tactical exercises in resolving the hostage situation in a vessel, approaching of two anti-terrorist squad vessels and resolving of hostage situations. Then a diving team from the Riverine Flotilla was deployed to continue the anti-terrorist action and capture fugitive terrorists.

Also, an exercise of a hostage situation on a train in co-action with two anti-terrorist units of the Ministry of Interior and the Serbian Armed Forces was executed.

Anti-terrorist teams of the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Serbian Ministry of Interior practiced at Batajnica infiltration from air by going down ropes from Mi-8 SAF helicopters with the support of Gazelle helicopters.

According to Major Darko Dimitrijevic from the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces, everything is working well and there are no problems in complying police forces with the Serbian Armed Forces.

- In our regular activities we often cooperate with the Gendarmerie and other units of the Serbian Armed Forces. We are all professionals and it is important to emphasize that all special units in Serbia have always cooperated very well - Major Dimitrijevic said.

Police member Captain Milos Vracar stressed that the exercises will demonstrate the strength of the entire defence system against all security threats.

- Citizens of Serbia will have the opportunity to see the equipment and combat readiness of all security structures in Serbia at a time when many countries are faced with terrorist threats. In this way, we will send a clear message of unity of Serbia and its security structures in the defence from all disruptive factors - Captain Vracar said.

Exercise "Shield" will be held on Saturday 21 November at 11 am at several locations - at the Palace of Serbia, at the Belgrade Main Railway Station, "Nikola Tesla" Airport and at Batajnica military airport.