Cologne: Police blow up drug laboratory - fire brigade in action against danger!

Cologne: Police blow up drug laboratory - fire brigade in action against danger!

In the Cologne area, the police uncovered an illegal drug laboratory that had barrels, gas bottles and kettles with unknown substances lying around. An operation that not only caused a stir, but also called the highly specialized “Analytical Task Force” (ATF) of the Cologne fire department into action. This unit is the first point of contact for the identification of hazardous substances, which in this case should be determined within just two hours. The operational head of the ATF, Stefan Beßlich, has been in this responsible position for 16 years.

The “Analytical Taskforce” has around 30 to 35 missions in Cologne and the surrounding area every year. Despite a decline in these operations in recent years, due to better equipping of local fire departments and police with modern measuring devices, the ATF remains active in the event of biological, chemical or nuclear as well as terrorist threats. A look at the recent past shows impacts such as the explosion in a waste incineration plant in 2021 or the tank car collision in 2020, in which the ATF was also deployed. The ATF is currently focusing particularly on illegal drug production sites and odors in residential areas.

The most important facts about the ATF

But what exactly is the Analytical Taskforce and what tasks does it perform? The ATF is a special unit specifically trained to detect and combat biological, chemical or radiological threats, with a focus on chemical analysis. These units are usually stationed in professional fire departments that have years of experience in CBRN operations (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards). Support is provided both through material equipment and through coordination and training by the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK).

A typical ATF unit consists of a command vehicle, a CBRN reconnaissance vehicle and an equipment vehicle, the so-called GW ATF. The Dortmund, Cologne and Essen fire departments are just three of eight ATF locations nationwide that can operate within a 200 kilometer radius. The ATF plays a central role in civil protection in Germany and is responsible for around 160 to 180 operations every year.

Unity and training

Since its founding after the terrorist attacks in the USA (2001) and Madrid (2004), the ATF has continued to develop. In recent years, a pilot project has also been launched to expand the range of applications to include biological agents. In addition, the ATF will be registered for operations in Europe in 2018, which will further boost its relevance at the international level.

The city of Cologne is currently increasingly looking for natural scientists to fill full-time positions in the fire department and thus further expand the expertise of this specialized unit. Modern challenges require a constant flow of knowledge and expertise in order to be best prepared for the dangers posed by illegal drug laboratories or other dangerous situations.

The Analytical Taskforce stands as an excellent example of how specialized units can contribute to protecting the population. The constant further training and the use of the latest technologies make the ATF an indispensable part of the security apparatus in Germany, especially here in Cologne.

For more information about the activities and functioning of the ATF, I recommend browsing the reports on the website of the Stadtanzeiger ksta.de and reading them on Wikipedia wikipedia.de.