The Chronicle-Herald/The Mail-Star
Published: 05/04/95
Category: News
Page: A10 / A12 / D8

Keywords: Military, Terrorists, Forces
Correction: 
Photo/Graphic: 


ANTI-TERRORISM UNIT EFFICIENT, BUT LOW-PROFILE 

Byline: By PAUL MOONEY The Canadian Press 

The Canadian Armed Forces unit Joint Task Force 2 is a shadowy, 
highly skilled counter-terrorist force of undetermined size, 
based somewhere near Ottawa with an anonymous commanding 
officer.
And that's the way the military wants to keep it.
But enough is known about similar units deployed by Canada's 
allies to establish a general profile of the crack force.
The Armed Forces set up Joint Task Force 2 when they took over 
anti-terrorist duties from the RCMP in April 1993. Its size, 
weapons, training and location of its base aren't disclosed. 
``We don't talk about it because we are not going to tip our 
hand about the unit's capabilities,'' Maj. Ric Jones said 
Wednesday. ``Those the unit is designed to counter could use 
that kind of information.'' 
Joint Task Force 2 drew attention Wednesday after reports it was
sent to Bosnia five months ago to rescue Canadian troops taken 
hostage by Serb forces. The unit was not used, the Ottawa 
Citizen reported. 
The Forces won't comment on the report. 
But Task Force 2 - the Forces never refer to it as a commando 
unit - was on alert for the Commonwealth games last year in 
Victoria. 
And it will no doubt be on alert for the G-7 summit of the 
leading industrialized countries next month in Halifax, 
although that does not necessarily mean its soldiers will patrol
rooftops over the summit or even be in the city. 
The unit's primary mandate is ``to be ready to respond as a 
force of last resort to terrorist events or major disturbances 
of the peace affecting national security.'' 
As a unit of the Armed Forces, it can also be sent on whatever 
other missions commanders deem necessary. 
The all-volunteer unit is drawn from the three services of the 
Forces and commanded by a lieutenantcolonel. Some experts put 
unit strength at between 200 and 250 men but the Forces will not
confirm the size. 
Its highly fit soldiers and officers would be trained to re-take
buildings or aircraft held by terrorists. They would be deployed
with a variety of special equipment such as stun and flash
grenades, automatic assault weapons and other equipment needed 
to storm fortified positions. 
Each member would have nightvision equipment for himself and for
his weapons; the unit would include skilled marksmen and 
explosive experts. 
At least part of the force would be on alert at all times, 
equipment packed and ready to go on a moment's notice. 
Western countries began forming such units after the Munich 
Massacre at the 1972 Olympic Games in which 11 Israeli atheletes
died in a hostage-taking by Palestinian terrorists. 
Western units are usually trained using methods developed by the
Special Air Service, the famed British force. After the Munich 
tragedy, Germany formed a crack unit known as the GSG-9. 
The Canadian government earmaked $20 million in start-up costs 
for the Armed Forces unit over two years. That included the 
purchase of land and some equipment it bought from the RCMP.