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Bijzondere Bijstands EenheidThe Bijzondere Bijstands Eenheid (BBE, or Close Combat Unit) is Netherlands's main counter-terrorist unit. It is an ad hoc unit, forming only when needed. Assault and sniper units are part of the group, but psychologists specializing in hostage situations are present as well. Candidates are selected from the best of the Royal Dutch Marines and undergo a 48-week training course. Members of the different units use different weapons for their tasks. Assault unit members use the HK MP-5 and Colt Lawman .357 revolver or SIG-Sauer P-226. Snipers use either the FAL rifle, the H&K G3 MSG or the Steyr SSG. It is important to note, however, that members of BBE have been reluctant to use deadly force in the past, instead preferring to use methods that enable them to capture instead of kill.
They have seen combat on a couple of occasions. In October of 1974 the BBE retook Scheverngen prison from interned Palestine terrorists using only stun-grenades and hand-to-hand combat. This despite the fact that the terrorists were armed.
Their most famous exploit was the June 11, 1977 simultaneous assault of a school-house and train seized by South Moluccan terrorists. During the short battle for the train, six terrorists were killed: unfortunately, two hostages were as well. However, in their action over 200 people had been freed ( 105 children and 98 adults had been captured between the two locations ). One of the unique aspects of their assault was the use of air force F-104 Starfighters for a diversion. At midnight, right before the assault, two F-104's flew over the train at supersonic speed, the resulting sonic boom disoriented the terrorists, making their efforts to fight back less effective.
Members of the BBE were in the Adriatic Sea ready to board vessels attempting to break the Serbian arms embargo in the early 1990s but were never used.
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