Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response
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The Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR) is an antiterrorism and policing force in select regions around the world, designed to respond to Crises and threats to US diplomats as well as US embassies and diplomatic missions. Law enforcement personnel from host nations are chosen to be members of SPEAR and are trained by the Diplomatic Security Service's (DSS) Office of Antiterrorism and Assistance (ATA).[1] SPEAR was established in 2014 in nations where the ability to protect high risk U.S personnel and property were weak in post Benghazi talks. [2]
Funding
SPEAR is funded by the ATA, and as of 2019 SPEAR has received approximately 33.7 million dollars.[3]
Participating SPEAR Nations
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Iraq
- Kenya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Tunisia
Training
SPEAR Deployments
Kenya
On January 19th, 2019, a SPEAR team was deployed in response to the Dusit2 complex attack in Nairobi. In the process of clearing the complex and rescuing civilians, the SPEAR team fought and killed two out of the five terrorists directing the attack. Two SPEAR members were seriously injured from a grenade explosion, but a third member was able to administer first aid to the wounded and they were later evacuated from the site. The terrorist attack conducted by Al-Shabaab killed 21 civilians with security services escorting more than 700 people out of the complex.[4]
- ^ "Special Program for Embassy Augmentation Response (SPEAR)". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
- ^ Spero, Domani (2021-05-17). "Snapshot: Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR)". Diplopundit. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
- ^ "Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) Program: Special Program for Embassy Augmentation Response (SPEAR)". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
- ^ "DSS-trained police help neutralize terrorists, rescue scores of civilians in Nairobi hotel attack". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-05-24.