Counter Terrorism Centre

Counter Terrorism Centre
Terrorelhárítási Központ
Abbreviation TEK
Agency overview
Formed September 1, 2010
Employees 858 (2011)
Annual budget 13.41 billion HUF[1] (61 million $) annually (2013)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Hungary
Headquarters Zách utca 4.
Budapest, Hungary

Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
  • Brigadier General János Hajdu, Director-General
Website
http://tek.gov.hu/

Counter Terrorism Centre (Hungarian: Terrorelhárítási Központ, TEK) is the SWAT state agency of Hungary, specialized for counter-terrorism, hostage crisis, gun violence, capturing dangerous criminals and protecting the Hungarian government and Hungarian citizens worldwide. They are the Hungarian equivalent of the German GSG 9 and the French GIGN.

It belongs to the Hungarian Ministry of Interior, headed by Sándor Pintér. TEK headquarters is located at Zách street (close to Hungária Boulevard), Pál Maléter Barracks, Kőbánya, Budapest, Hungary.[2]

TEK was founded by the Second Cabinet of Viktor Orbán on 1 September 2010. According to the Hungarian ombudsman, TEK is the most professional, well-financed and well-equipped state agency in the country.[3]

Role

Equipment and vehicles

TEK is using a number of small arms weapons most notably the USP, MP5, 417. Detailed information about the equipment of TEK is not public, but according to the Hungarian media it uses armoured Audi Q7 luxury SUVs[4] and BTR-80 armoured personnel carriers. According to Sándor Pintér, the Minister of Interior, TEK doesn't use tanks.[5]

Notable operations

On 2010 Units of TEK deployed in order to arrest members of extreme BDSM website Mood Pictures in Budapest [6]

On 10 October 2011, during World War Z filming in Budapest, TEK invaded the crew's stores and also seized several guns, sniper rifles etc. which were used for filming. According to the official statement producers failed to consult with the authorities and despite of the import documentation's indication, all weapons were found to be fully functional.[7] Later prosecutor's office dropped the charges in February 2012.[8]

On August 13, 2012, three Hungarian nationals were held hostage by Syrian gunmen in Damascus. A detachment from TEK was deployed to Syria to set free the Hungarians. They arrived in Budapest on August 27, 2012 without injury.[9][10]

In 2015 and 2016 the Europe-wide terrorist attacks and threat resulted in increased funds and constant readiness for TEK. They cooperated with the army and police to secure & patrol Budapest after the March 22 Brussels attacks.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 2014 budget of Hungary compared with the 2013 budget, hirado.hu (Hungarian)
  2. ↑ "Megalakult a Terrorelhárítási Központ". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Az ombudsmant aggasztja a TEK titkos információgyűjtése". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Balázs, Andróczi. "Audi Q7-esekkel a rosszfiúk ellen?". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Origo. "Nem kap tankokat a TEK". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Mood Pictures - Hungarian Spanking & BDSM Studio Arrested". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Counter-terrorism police seize World War Z machine guns". News.com.au. October 11, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  8. ↑ Grossberg, Josh (February 10, 2012). "Brad Pitt's Illegal Gun Cache: Is He Really in Serious Trouble?". E!. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hostage crisis in Syria, Magyar Nemzet (Hungarian)
  10. ↑ Zrt., HVG Kiadó (26 August 2012). "Már a TEK vigyáz a Szíriában elrabolt magyarokra". Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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