The Use of Motorcycles during protective Missions

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The development of Personal Protection tactics is based on the behavior ofthe attacker. Only those who are attacker oriented will be able to establish efficient defensive measures. The attacker has to be hurt by his own means.

The function of the motorcycle by the perpetrator

Especially in South America and Italy, the motorcycle is used to commit assassination attempts. Even the West German RAF used such a vehicle for the assassination of the German General Prosecutor Mr. Buback. Inside narrow city traffic, the motorcycle has several advantages compared with a car. When a car is stuck in a traffic jam, a motorcycle can wind through it, allowing for a quick approach from the blind spot of the car. The sound of the motorcycle engine is covered by the noise of the traffic. The manoueverability of the motorbike or motorcycle
enables the attacker to escape from the scene of the assassination attempt, even if there is a traffic jam, a factor
which attackers seriously consider prior to any incident attempt.

A further advantage for the perpetrator is his ability to cover his face with a helmet without appearing suspicious. Carlos Marigella, one of the innovators of terrorist tactics, emphasis in his book, ”The Minimanuel Of The Urban Guerrilla”, the importance of surprise and mobility for the success of an attack. The motorbike supports these elements. During surveillance , the Principal’s car can be followed by a motorcycle at a greater distance than with cars, because the motorbike can overtake other cars very fast if necessary. If the motorcycle had to stop at a red traffic light that the Principal passed by on green, the motorcycle can easily make good the lost time and distance to the VIP.

Attackers on motorcycle

When attackers use a car and the shooter is the front-seat passenger, the attacker car has to be left-side of
the principal or behind him. With a motorcycle the pillion rider can operate and shoot from all four sides.

The use of the motorcycle by the Personal Protection team

The French president is escorted by at least one civil motorcycle. But in this country (Germany), the use of motorcycles for personal protection is more common than in other countries, even in the field of private security.
The motorcycle has not only for the perpetrators a lot of advantages, but also for the protection detail.

The use of the motorcycle inside the security escort section

It is a big advantage, if the Principal’s car can be surrounded from different sides. The motorcycle can change
its position very quickly, when it’s needed. Even on a one lane road (one in each direction), the Principal’s car can
be protected from the side. The motorcycle Protective team can react very quickly. If a suspicious car (with
open windows for example) or a motorbike is approaching, the two men of the security detail can drive
with motorcycles with the principal’s car between them. With an escort car, a fast change of position in a high
traffic situation is very difficult and nearly impossible. And there is also the possibility of sending the motorcycle
in advance to take the point, or put it behind the convoy, so that it can follow the motorcade with some distance. If
an unknown car is driving between the Principal and the escort car (for example after the escort car had to stop
at a traffic light), the motorcycle can cover the distance and reach the Principle’s car much faster than the escort
car. In the case of a shooting the motorcycle Protective crew can fire back very quickly, without having to open
a door or window. The freedom of movement of the Protective crew allows the ability to shoot to from all sides. If
the motorcycle Protective team is operating under low profile conditions, it will be of great benefit for a sur-
prising counterattack.

A disadvantage to a motorcycle Protective team is that during longer travels, the motorcycle crew gets tired and
they are much more exposed to bad weather conditions than the officers inside the cars. If perpetrators identify the motorcycle as part of the detail, the crew is also nearly unprotected and exposed to a ramming attack.

When the Principal has gone out of his car, and is traveling on foot, it is normally not possible for the motor-
cycle Protective crew to escort the Principal, because they do not have the necessary clothes to work low profile.

The departure of the Principal

The Principal leaves his house and enters the car parked at his doorstep. Behind the Principal’s car, the escort car
is parked. In front of the house, the motorcycle is parked, and its crew observes the street and the surroundings.
The motorcade leaves the estate only after getting the signal from the motorcycle crew. The motorcycle can follow
the motorcade directly, or stay for the moment at the house (low profile) and carry out counter-surveillance.

The arrival of the Principal

Before the VIP Principal arrives at his destination, the motorcycle arrives at the site. Only after getting the okey
signal (via communication equipment) by the motorcycle crew, the VIP and escort cars arrive.

Advance and reconnaissance/countersurveillance measures

The aim of the reconnaissance and countersurveillance measures is to recognize surveillance carried out by
any perpetrators. The motorcycle fits the necessity of an unobtrusive countersurveillance vehicle. The sur-
veillance vantage points and possible attack sites that were evaluated during the analysis of the routes
(especially those near the house and office of the VIP) have to be checked by the motorcycle crew. If the motor-
cycle is part of the escort section, it has to relocate from the section quickly in order to observe the area
and movement prior to the passing of the VIP. After the VIP has passed, the crew looks for changes of the
situation. If the motorcycle is only used for countersurveillance, it is much more difficult for the perpetrators to
detect it as part of the security measures; this presupposes that the motorcycle crew has worked unobtrusi-
vely. When a motorcycle with a two man Protective crew is used for Personal Protection, the rear-seat rider must
also possess a driving license to make sure that both can operate as driver during longer travels. The handguns
must be easily and quickly accessible. There must be a baggage rack in order to transport the necessary equip-
ment. Motorcycle riders, in order to maximize the benefits from the advantages of unobtrusiveness over a
longer period, need to change the type of motorbike, the helmets and protection clothes whenever possible. The
crew has to train regularly how to

operate in a team with the other members of the Protection detail. Different attack scenarios with the appro-
priate defense tactics have to be trained. Not to forget the practice of shooting from a motorcycle and regular
security driving exercises with motorcycles.

Beat the bad guys with their own means!

Copyright  P. M. and PRAESIDIA DEFENCE. The author P. M. is a former member German government
security forces. He has studied “Terrorism and Political Violence” at an university in the USA. He  works
now for PRAESIDIA DEFENCE in Germany.

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