The ARAS or Lithuanian Police Anti-terrorist Operations Unit ARAS is a separate specialized police unit established in 1991. At first, ARAS's main purpose was to suppress organized crime and the bandit groups that were freely operating in Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

. In addition, they handled riot suppression, peace keeping, and escort. In December 2004 the unit was admitted into the international organization ATLAS, which consolidates special units fighting against terrorism from the European Union countries, as the Lithuanian representative.

Structure

ARAS consists of a:

• command,
• Special Team,
• Explosive Search and Neutralization Division,
• Information, analysis and negotiation Division,
• 3 companies, one of them located in Klaipėda
  Klaipeda
  Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
  
  .

The unit also has specialized reconnaissance, negotiation, sniper, climber and diver groups that are necessary to carry out the main functions ascribed to the unit.

Functions

The main functions of ARAS are to:

• organize, manage and implement special antiterrorist operations inside Lithuania;
• rescue hostages and detain dangerous armed criminals under extreme or high danger circumstances;
• search for and neutralize improvised explosive devices and military explosives, used for terrorist or criminal purposes;
• under their competence participate while performing various operative actions, detaining persons, suspected to have performed or planning to commit a crime;
• collect and analyze information related to terrorist threats, cooperate with professional institutions of other countries in this sphere;
• participate in organizing and implementing plans and programs for antiterrorist measures, and other legal acts establishing terrorism prevention.

Equipment and training

ARAS is provided with modern arms and equipment for successful work. There are modern weapons with special sights, night vision

Night vision

Night vision is the ability to see in low light conditions. Whether by biological or technological means, night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches: sufficient spectral range, and sufficient intensity range...

 equipment, thermo visors, equipment for explosives search, modern equipment for divers, special armour-plated vests, shields and helmets among them.

Nevertheless, all weapons are worthless without competent people. Currently the nucleus of the unit is made up of highly qualified combatants, who have acquired physical and psychological training and are prepared for working under extreme circumstances. Much experience was gained when the officers participated in several courses for special unit response to critical situations organized by the US State Department, which were included in the international program for the war against terrorism

War on Terror

The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...

. During these exercises they showed good preparation, and received a high evaluation from the organizers of the courses. Officers from the unit participated in many other courses organized not only in the USA, but also by law enforcement institutions of other countries.

Equipment

ARAS operators use modern western oriented equipment from countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, UK and the USA. Most of their weapons and equipment is German.

Among many weapons used in ARAS there are such models as:
H&K MP-5/A5/SD6/KA4, H&K G36C/K, H&K 69 A1, Steyer AUG A1/P, SIG SG 551-2 SWAT, Sig Sauer P226, Glock 17, Benelli M4 Super 90, PGM Ultima Ratio Intervention, PGM Ultima Ratio Hecate II, Accuracy International AW F, ...

Training

Candidates are selected on the basis of "Delta Force" program criteria. Candidates have their biography's thoroughly checked, the age requirement is not younger than 18 and no older than 30 years, priority is given to non-smokers, 5 years of work experience in any other police branch would be advantage. Those who make it through this barrier have to grapple with the psychological and intelligence tests and have to pass the physical preparation check, especially endurance and emotional stability. Only 2-3 men a year make the cut into this elite group.