In immersion with the elite unit of the national police

Known for his interventions during the Bataclan assault in 2015, the hunt for the Kouachi brothers, the evacuation of the French Embassy in Kabul after the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan (2021), or the taking of Hostages of Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1993, the most secret elite unit of the national police celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.

“The raid is four letters that define its missions: research, assistance, intervention, deterrence,” explains his chief, Commissioner Guillaume Cardy. Based in Bièvres (Essonne), in sixteen regional antennas and overseas, this specialized intervention force of around 500 police officers leads more than 1,500 operations per year. Still in cases of force majeure, crisis and chaos situations: high -risk arrests, hostage -taking, terrorist attacks …

Their motto “Serve without fail”

It also protects from particularly threatened personalities, such as the Pope in Corsica or the members of the Israel Olympic team during the Paris Olympics, secures presidential travel and monitors major events.

“We train every day to be at the best level and deserve to belong to this elite unit. But in reality, no one knows exactly how he reacted at the moment when the crisis strikes, ”says Junior, an operator in the Lille antenna, who was present in the Bataclan. Since 1985, men and rare raids have been ready 24 hours a day. True to their motto “serve without failing”.