Bravo-90 Detachment, the elite counter-terrorist unit of the Air Force’s Paskhas special force, displayed on Monday its prowess and ability in neutralizing a terrorist threat during a hostage simulation. The simulation took place at Ngurah Rai International Airport, the island’s main tourist entry point that sees more than 100,000 flights and nearly 13 million passengers per year. It was attended by the detachment commander, Lt. Col. M Juanda, and the Ngurah Rai air force base commander, Lt. Col. Jumarto.
The simulation scenario centered on a major breach of security at the airport that hypothetically enabled 15 terrorists armed with assault rifles and explosives to take control of the airport’s VIP terminal and the nearby oil depot. The terrorists also managed to grab an aircraft filled with VIP passengers. Under the scenario, the terrorists had 30 innocent civilians under their control. It was a nightmarish scenario for any counter terrorist unit. It was impossible for security officers to approach the aircraft without being seen by terrorists guarding the oil depot. The moment the terrorists spotted anything suspicious, they were ready to detonate explosives in the depot.
They also began planting explosives in the aircraft. To make things worse, they presented the security officers with an impossible demand. They demanded a direct face-to-face meeting with the president to convey their demands; the unconditional release of their friends detained by our government. Unfortunately, the president was out of the country so he gave the green light for a commando operation to rescue the hostages, Juanda said. Trained negotiators continued to engage the terrorists while Juanda ordered his men to gear up. He told his men to neutralize the terrorist sentries at the oil depot first to provide a secured entry point for the Bravo-90 operators.
This task was given to a small unit of Bravo-90 operators, who were airlifted from the nearby military airbase. Upon approaching Ngurah Rai, the operators conducted a dangerous HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) combat parachute jump, landing in the waters by the airport. Each of the operators was equipped with tactical diving equipment. Silently, they approached the beachhead next to the oil depot. The operators subdued the sentries with sniper rifles fitted with silencers. Two other units of Bravo-90 operators, armed with HK MP-5 submachine guns fitted with special EOTech-issued red dot scopes, SAR 15 assault rifles and Benelli 12-gauge shotguns, slipped through the opening and approached undetected toward the hijacked aircraft and VIP terminal.
Tailing behind them were several operators carrying high-powered sniper rifles. The rest was taken straight out of a classic commando textbook. The unit targeting the aircraft executed two simultaneous breaches through the plane’s front and rear doors, confusing the terrorists in the process. The other operators made a fast breach into the VIP terminal and used their extensive training in CQB (Close Quarter Combat) to clear the room before the terrorists could execute the hostages. The operation, which only took 15 minutes to complete, saw one hostage and seven terrorists killed, while no operators suffered injury.
In the military world, it was a successful operation. As the operators herded the hostages to a safe zone, another unit of Bravo-90 operators drove several tactical vehicles fitted with light machine guns to establish a secure perimeter. Bomb squad officers then neutralized any explosives left behind by the terrorists. Bali frequently hosts international events and we would like to show the world that we have the capability to secure them, Jumarto said.
source : bali daily
