Einsatzgruppe TIGRIS
Encyclopedia
The Einsatzgruppe TIGRIS (Task Force TIGRIS) is a specialized tactical police unit belonging to the Federal Criminal Police, the investigative arm of the Swiss Federal Office of Police
. As of 2009, it consists of 14 officers and is based at the military police base in Worblaufen near Berne
. Manpower for the unit is currently being increased to recruit more officers.
The exact budget allocated to the unit has been made classified by the Federal Office of Police
, only being known as part of its allocated budget. Due to their covert origin, Swiss media has called them Supercops.
As of 2009, TIGRIS operators have been deployed for 130 operations in Switzerland
. No shots have been fired by TIGRIS during these operations.
on January 1, 2002. The unit was created under "Project Effort".
Federal officials were first informed about the existence of TIGRIS in September 2005 in a routine meeting of high-ranking police officials, catching most of them by surprise as they were not aware of its creation. It was not, however, a matter of public knowledge until March 2009, when it was revealed by an article in the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche
.
wanted for armed robbery, followed by another arrest operation resulting in the apprehension of a Polish national
on December 11, 2006.
On April 3, 2007, TIGRIS units joined with St. Gallen police in arresting a Turkish national
for forgery. TIGRIS arrested Gerhard Ulrich, the founder of "Call to the People" on March 27, 2009.
Its known budget is a total of 2.7 million Swiss francs
.
A report on TIGRIS was publicly announced, saying that the unit could probably operate in international territory according to its mandate.
According to Markus Notter, Zurich Director of Justice and President of the Police and Justice directors, claimed that Switzerland has too many civilian specialist units serving under various cantons which would not warrant TIGRIS's existence. Additionally, the police forces in various cantons have responsibility for maintaining security in their own jurisdiction while the Federal Police are supposed to protect Switzerland's territory.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
had ordered an investigation into whether the covert creation of TIGRIS was legal and whether the agency is needed for Swiss law enforcement. She concluded that TIGRIS is not needed when she had announced the investigation.
The matter of the unit's existence was raised in the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, questioning its structure and operational manners.
, Federal Criminal Police commander Kurt Blöchlinger insisted that feedback from various police cantons were positive regarding TIGRIS's deployment to assist them. In addition, he said that he had told police officials regarding TIGRIS's existence in 2005 contrary to claims that they never knew about TIGRIS.
TIGRIS' Worblaufen facility is said to be a violation of Swiss law since it was said to be using Swiss military facilities when a reply to the Federal Assembly had insisted that TIGRIS and the military police do not share any building facilities.
Federal Office of Police
The Federal Office of Police or fedpol of Switzerland is subject to the Federal Department of Justice and Police. It is responsible for the coordination between cantonal police corps and between Swiss and foreign police forces...
. As of 2009, it consists of 14 officers and is based at the military police base in Worblaufen near Berne
Berne
The city of Bern or Berne is the Bundesstadt of Switzerland, and, with a population of , the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000...
. Manpower for the unit is currently being increased to recruit more officers.
The exact budget allocated to the unit has been made classified by the Federal Office of Police
Federal Office of Police
The Federal Office of Police or fedpol of Switzerland is subject to the Federal Department of Justice and Police. It is responsible for the coordination between cantonal police corps and between Swiss and foreign police forces...
, only being known as part of its allocated budget. Due to their covert origin, Swiss media has called them Supercops.
As of 2009, TIGRIS operators have been deployed for 130 operations in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. No shots have been fired by TIGRIS during these operations.
History
In the past, plans to create a specialist federal police unit had failed twice- in 1978 and in 2002- due to jurisdiction issues with the cantons. After the Swiss Parliament approved the formation of TIGRIS in the year 2000, the unit was covertly created under the watch of ex-Justice Minister Christoph BlocherChristoph Blocher
Christoph Blocher is a Swiss politician, industrialist, and former member of the Swiss Federal Council heading the Federal Department of Justice and Police . Currently he is serving as Vice President of the Swiss People's Party...
on January 1, 2002. The unit was created under "Project Effort".
Federal officials were first informed about the existence of TIGRIS in September 2005 in a routine meeting of high-ranking police officials, catching most of them by surprise as they were not aware of its creation. It was not, however, a matter of public knowledge until March 2009, when it was revealed by an article in the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche
Die Weltwoche
Die Weltwoche is a Swiss weekly magazine based in Zürich. It is privately owned by Roger Köppel. The magazine's regular columnists of note include the former president of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, Peter Bodenmann, as well as Christoph Mörgeli MP, a leading figure of the right...
.
Known operations
TIGRIS was deployed in its first mission in May 2003, when they apprehended two foreign nationals, one for the breaking out of a German prison and another for committing fraud. In June 2006, TIGRIS operatives, assisting Zürich police, arrested a Moldavian nationalMoldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
wanted for armed robbery, followed by another arrest operation resulting in the apprehension of a Polish national
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
on December 11, 2006.
On April 3, 2007, TIGRIS units joined with St. Gallen police in arresting a Turkish national
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
for forgery. TIGRIS arrested Gerhard Ulrich, the founder of "Call to the People" on March 27, 2009.
Equipment
Operatives of TIGRIS are known to wear black helmets and combat uniforms. The Weltwoche had reported that the unit has been provided with state-of-the-art counterterrorism equipment and weapons as well as computerised training facilities.Its known budget is a total of 2.7 million Swiss francs
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
.
Mandate
TIGRIS would intervene in situations where cantonal police would need federal assistance in solving matters out of their capacity. TIGRIS's missions are based on special operations with high risks and will not intervene in missions where canton police specialist units can handle the job themselves.A report on TIGRIS was publicly announced, saying that the unit could probably operate in international territory according to its mandate.
Criticism
Several politicians were angered at the creation of TIGRIS when the unit was officially revealed to the public due to its covert nature.According to Markus Notter, Zurich Director of Justice and President of the Police and Justice directors, claimed that Switzerland has too many civilian specialist units serving under various cantons which would not warrant TIGRIS's existence. Additionally, the police forces in various cantons have responsibility for maintaining security in their own jurisdiction while the Federal Police are supposed to protect Switzerland's territory.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is a Swiss lawyer, politician, and member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2008. She is currently the head of the Federal Department of Finance ....
had ordered an investigation into whether the covert creation of TIGRIS was legal and whether the agency is needed for Swiss law enforcement. She concluded that TIGRIS is not needed when she had announced the investigation.
The matter of the unit's existence was raised in the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, questioning its structure and operational manners.
Defense
In an interview with BlickBlick
Blick is a German-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Zürich, Switzerland since 1959 by Ringier.It has a circulation of 275,000 and a readership of 750,000 . Only the free daily 20 Minuten has a higher circulation in Switzerland....
, Federal Criminal Police commander Kurt Blöchlinger insisted that feedback from various police cantons were positive regarding TIGRIS's deployment to assist them. In addition, he said that he had told police officials regarding TIGRIS's existence in 2005 contrary to claims that they never knew about TIGRIS.
TIGRIS' Worblaufen facility is said to be a violation of Swiss law since it was said to be using Swiss military facilities when a reply to the Federal Assembly had insisted that TIGRIS and the military police do not share any building facilities.