Information AboutGign |
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The GIGN (''Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale'') is the French Gendarmerie 's Elite Counter-terrorism and Hostage Rescue unit. It is composed of 110 men, including 11 officers. Its missions include the arrest of gunmen, in particular those taking Hostage s, counter-terrorism, including Airplane Hijacking , or prevention of Mutiny in prisons. It is headquartered in Satory , west of Paris . Along with the EPIGN it forms the GSIGN (''Groupe de Sécurité et d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale'', Group of Security and Intervention of the National Gendarmerie). HISTORY After the tragic events of the Munich Massacre during the Olympic Games In 1972 , and a mutiny in Clairvaux the next year, France started to study the possible solutions to extremely violent attacks, under the assumptions that these would be extremely difficult to predict and deflect. In 1973 , the GIGN was created as a permanent force of men trained and equipped to respond to these kind of threats while minimising risks for the public and hostages, for the members of the unit, and for the attackers themselves. The GIGN became operational on the first of March, 1974 , under command of Lieutenant Christian Prouteau . Ten days later, a terrorist group was successfully stopped in Ecquevilly , validating the techniques of the unit and proving its necessity. Since its creation, the group has taken part in over 1000 operations, liberated over 500 hostages, arrested over 1000 suspects, and killed a dozen terrorists. The unit has seen 1 member killed in action, and 6 in training, since its foundation. {Link without Title} Past actions included:
The GIGN was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ) to teach the special forces of the other member states. FORMER LEADERS STRUCTURE The GIGN is divided into four groups: negotiation, special equipment section (mechanics, video, weaponry), a language group (individuals specialized in teaching foreign units), and a technical group which provides the unit with modified and high-tech equipment, by either selecting or designing it. Training includes Shooting , Marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat techniques ( Krav Maga ). Members of the GIGN are widely regarded as having some of the best firearms training in the world. It is for this reason that many of the world's special operations and counterterrorist units conduct exchange programs with the GIGN. Optional competences: Police Dog s, Diving , Parachutism , Explosive s, Survival , the education in those various capabilities being dispensed by the appropriate training centres of the French Military . IN FICTION GIGN is one of the playable counter-terrorist groups in the game , characters are able to wear a GIGN uniform. A former GIGN member appears as the leader of a private security unit in the 2005 film The Island . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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