Counter-terrorism Rapid Response

The ''Counter-terrorism Rapid Response'' (Italian: Antiterrorismo Pronto Impiego, or ATPI) force, formed in 1983, is a special police unit of the Guardia di Finanza dealing with anti-terrorism in Italy. The unit took part in counterterrorism operations and VIP protection details in Italy. This unit has done operations in Albania, Kosovo and Hungary.

History

The AT-P.I., was founded in 1983, during the so-called " years of lead", is the component for special operations of the Guardia di Finanza.

Born as an evolution of the 5 Supervision and Escort Values Sections at the Bank of Italy and 3 companies (Rome, Naples and Loreto) the personnel SVATPI (Scorta Antiterrorismo Pronto Impiego) was "creaoi" in 1977 in order to contrast the actions of the Red Brigades against vans carrying the Bank of Italy's values. The SVATPI will later be used as escort corps for several prominent personalities, including the then Minister of Finance (who, according to confessions received by a terrorist, would have been at the center of a failed abduction plan precisely because of the presence of the operators).

The Courses S.V.A.T.-P.I. altogether 16, the last in the summer of 1981.

Task

The unit is specialized in counter-terrorism activity, in charge of the supervision of airports, ports and other targets considered sensitive. It also operates in the fight against illicit trafficking, with specific regard to the area of organized crime, smuggling, drugs, weapons and illegal immigration. Today's AT-P.I. is also used as a mobile department to support the operations of the territorial departments, deploying, for example, teams of marksmen during the operations for the seizure of drugs, or tactical units for high-risk tasks. The companies that make up the department can also be deployed as riot units in serious situations of threat to public order. The men of the AT-P.I are also used in the escort service for the Minister of Economy.

The AT-P.I. is also trained in the liberation of hostages, and has also engaged in missions abroad.

Organization

The AT-P.I. appears to be divided into Companies, which in turn are made up of "AT-PI Operating Teams", consisting of 7/9 elements, and incorporated within territorial departments, such as companies and groups. The number of marksmen are instead present only in some departments, and mainly in large cities (almost exclusively used in the airport). The AT-P.I. can also be classified in sections of 50 elements, in turn divided into teams of 10 men, usually headed by an Inspector (Marshall).

Recruitment

The soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza, in the "Appuntato" and "Finanziere" roles, Superintendents and Inspectors, acquire the "ATPI" qualification after having attended and passed a special specialization course. The training activity turns out to be very demanding both from the psychological and physical point of view, has a duration of 10 intensive weeks and takes place at the School of Specialization of Orvieto located in a barracks of the Guardia di Finanza. The military part of the "ATPI" course activities are trained in the use of police techniques necessary to deal with situations of public order, escort and police activities in general. In addition they are taught techniques of verbalization of police (judicial police and administrative in general), and techniques of police shooting (with gun Beretta 92 FS, machine gun Beretta PM12, rifle Franchi SPAS-12, assault rifle Beretta AR70/90 etc.).

'' 'Taught techniques' '':
* Personal Defense and Martial Arts
* Police and Dynamic shooting
* Particular Actions and Ardimento (release of military and police hostages, break into houses)
* Safety Stocks (1st level)
* Fast and armored car driving technique (lasting fifteen days, including defensive and offensive driving techniques)
* Guerrilla and Antiguerriglia techniques
* Police Techniques
* Defense N.B.C.R.
* Public order

At the end of the specific training, the staff is called upon to carry out priority service activities in the field of the Judicial Police and the Security Police, in addition to the specific tasks of the Economic-Financial Police common to all members of the armed force.

Weapons

The individual armament of an AT-P.I operator. consists of the order pistol Beretta 92FS.

Each team also has available:
* Beretta M12 / S machine gun with 32mm 9mm Parabellum magazine
* 2 Beretta SC 70/90 assault rifles in 5.56x45mm caliber NATO (to which, previously, a trombone was used to launch tear gas canisters and equipped with its own trigger, now a special tear gas canister is used, independent of the assault rifle SC 70/90).
* 1 Franchi SPAS Mil 15 pump / semi-automatic rifle in 12 / 70mm caliber, which can be armed with non-lethal (rubber) ammunition, pellettoni, single ball and "demolition" capable of unhinging doors.

In the unit's armory there are also some H & K MP5 machine guns, which can be loaded with a frangible ball and / or at low speed, for possible interventions in narrow spaces (such as aircraft), where hostages can be raised. Among the precision rifles used by the department, we find the Mauser SP86 and the Heckler & Koch PSG-1.

Given the delicacy of the tasks that will be called to play, a military AT-P.I. it requires continuous training and / or updating activities.

Vehicles

The vehicles in service with the ATPI are the same of the Guardia di Finanza, such as Alfa Romeo 156, Alfa Romeo 159, Fiat Punto, Fiat Bravo, Iveco Daily, Mitsubishi Pajero and armored vehicles Subaru Forester.

Publicly known missions

* June–October 1988, Reggio Calabria, Operation Vespri Siciliani: ATPI operators from all departments in the area are employed in land control and public order activities, as part of a broader strategy aimed at consolidating the presence of the State in Sicily, in the aftermath of the attack where the Judge Falcone, his wife and the escort operators died.
* 1992 Bari, 25 operators of the 3rd ATPI Napoli Company are employed in support of the territorial departments in the operation against the smuggling asked by the pro-tempore Finance Minister Hon. Rino Formica.
* 1987–1994 four ATPI operators of the 3rd Napoli Company are employed in Rome, as protection for the President of the Constitutional Court.
* February–June 1994, Villa Literno, Caserta: twenty-five ATPI operators of the 3rd Como company, based in Lavena Ponte Tresa, together with five of the 4th Company Roma, take part in anti-smuggling activities, land control and prevention of illegal immigration. These operators were subsequently deployed during the G7 held in Naples, as escort for the benefit of various foreign delegations, and with counter-terrorism duties.
* 1996–1999 Milan, Operation "Milano- Massima Sicurezza", anti-immigration and anti-smuggling activities.
* 2000–2002, Apulia, "OPeration Spring", anti-smuggling activity.
* 20–22 July 2001, Genoa, security during the G8.
* 2003 Naples, counter micro-criminality activity.
* 8–10 July 2008, L'Aquila, security during the G8.
* 8–10 July 2008, two ATPI operatorsMaresciallo Aiutante Pier Paolo Marino e Appuntato Andrea Esposito, appartenenti rispettivamente alle sezioni Pronto Impiego di Udine e Gorizia. are included in the personal escort of the American president Barack Obama, at the express request of the presidential staff.
* 26–27 May 2017, Taormina, ATPI in service during the G7.

Foreign Operations

ATPI has been used in Albania as a protection for the seafarers of the Guardia di Finanza deployed in the CAM-SEA mission. During the period of the Amato Government, the unit was extraordinarily assigned to the Prime Minister, upon specific request of the same (a decree of the Ministry of the Interior provides that it is entrusted to the NOCS or to the GIS).

Also important are the operational deployments abroad, such as the one on the Danube (as a security team of the GFF naval units) and with the Italian contingent in Kosovo.

References

{{Law enforcement in Italy

Counterterrorist organizations
Guardia di Finanza
Police tactical units