Kategorie: News
International divers learn how to master dangerous missions underwater
In Lake Wörthersee near Klagenfurt, international police divers are currently training to defuse bombs underwater. The training is organized by six specially trained officers from the Austrian Cobra task force, who are in demand throughout Europe for their expertise. They regularly conduct training for emergency services in other EU member states on behalf of Europol.
The water police boathouse on Lake Wörthersee is currently full of special equipment, including sonar devices, underwater robots and X-ray technology. Particularly important are special protective suits that the Cobra team has put together itself based on 25 years of experience.
Austria began to take a closer look at bomb disposal after the attacks by Franz Fuchs in the 1990s. At the time, it became clear that the danger is not limited to land – explosive devices in water pose a threat as well. Since then, the bomb disposal service has continued to develop and has established such a successful concept that Europol regularly sends specialists for training.
In the current exercise, divers from six countries, including Malta, Lithuania and Germany, are training for two weeks at Lake Wörthersee. The Austrian bomb disposal unit is called to 300 to 400 missions annually, with four to five percent of these missions taking place in water – and the trend is rising.
The increasing threat is a cause for concern, explains John Eberhardt, director of the special forces. War equipment from Ukraine, whether Russian, European or American, is increasingly ending up in illegal channels and could sooner or later also appear in Central Europe. Intensive international cooperation through Europol should help to be better prepared for this danger.