("Search, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence"), commonly abbreviated RAID (; French: ), is an elite tactical unit of the French National Police. Founded in 1985, it is headquartered in Bièvres, Essonne, approximately 20 kilometres (12 miles) southwest of Paris. RAID is the National Police counterpart of the National Gendarmerie's GIGN. Both units share responsibility for the French territory.

Since 2009, RAID and the Paris Search and Intervention Brigade (BRI), a separate National Police unit reporting directly into the Paris Police Prefecture (), have formed a task force called National Police Intervention Force () or FIPN. When activated, the task force is headed by the RAID commander. Thirteen regional units of the National Police, previously known as National Police Intervention Groups (GIPNs), have been created or permanently integrated into RAID and re-designated as "RAID branches" () between 2015 and 2019.

Missions

thumb|Typical equipment of a RAID police officer, June 2018

Among the main missions of RAID are:

  • Counter-terrorism in coordination with UCLAT, the co-ordination unit for the fight against terrorism ().
  • Hostage recovery situations
  • Close protection of VIPs
  • Protection of some of the French embassies in war-torn countries (a mission shared with the Gendarmerie's GIGN)
  • Site protection during special events
  • Resolution of prison riots
  • Assistance to other police departments fighting against organized crime
  • Surveillance and arrest of high-profile criminals
  • Arrest of dangerous deranged persons
  • Training and assistance to foreign police forces
  • Assessment of new equipment and techniques.

RAID reports to the director general of the National Police (DGPN), himself a direct report of the Minister of the Interior.

History

thumb|French RAID Police tactical unit operators - 2024

thumb|Operators of the French Police RAID tactical unit during a demo - 2024

Before the creation of RAID, the National Police did not have a national unit comparable to the Gendarmerie's GIGN and relied instead on regional units: BRI in Paris and the GIPNs in the provinces. Minister of the Interior Pierre Joxe was the key decision maker who authorized the creation of the unit. RAID was founded by then-commissaires Robert Broussard and Ange Mancini in 1985. Broussard, one of the best known Police commissaires at the time, was one of the advisers who pushed the project. Mancini was chosen to be the unit's first commander.

In 1987 RAID arrested the leaders of the terrorist group Action Directe in their Vitry-aux-Loges hideout. The hostage taker was finally shot and the children were recovered safely, together with their teacher and a nurse. In 1996, in Roubaix, the unit neutralized the Gang de Roubaix, a 14-member terrorist group tied to the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA), suspected of several bank robberies, murders, and a failed attack against the Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Lille. The assault was very violent and resulted in the death of four terrorists. Two RAID operatives were also injured, one by a grenade blast, the other hit by a bullet in a lung.

On 9 January 2015 RAID, together with BRI, a unit of the Paris Metropolitan Police, ended the hostage situation at the kosher supermarket Hypercacher on the third day of the January 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. On 14 November 2015 RAID, again with the Paris BRI, took part in operations at the Bataclan theatre, where 90 people were killed during a series of bombings, shootings and hostage taking in Paris on 13 – 14 November. On 18 November RAID undertook a follow-up operation in Saint-Denis seeking Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the 'mastermind' of the attacks, who was killed.

RAID also provides close protection for foreign dignitaries traveling in France. During special events, RAID is also in charge of protecting French individuals abroad (For example, the French Delegation during the Olympic Games is under RAID protection during the whole event).

Three RAID officers have been killed in action: two in Ris-Orangis (near Paris) in 1989 and one in Corsica in 1996.

RAID Commanders

  • Ange Mancini: 1985-1990
  • Louis Bayon: 1990-1996
  • Gérard Zerbi: 1996-1999
  • Jean-Gustave Paulmier: 1999-2002
  • Christian Lambert: 2002-2004
  • Jean-Louis Fiamenghi: 2004-2007
  • Amaury de Hauteclocque: 2007-2013
  • Jean-Michel Fauvergue: 2013-2017
  • Jean-Baptiste Dulion: 2017-2023
  • Guillaume Cardy : since 2023

See also

  • ATLAS Network
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN)
  • List of special police units
  • National Liberation Front of Corsica

Notes

References

Bibliography

The following books and articles are in French.

Books

  • (DVD included)

Magazines