Documentation for Anti-Terrorist Unit
June 30, 1999
BBC Monitoring Africa - Political
The government of Liberia welcomes the views and comments from the public about this new deployment, and wishes to assure the people of Liberia that the ATU is the people's force, and will work in the interest of the people of Liberia in the prevention and containment of terrorism
Feb. 16, 2000
Africa News
On Monday members of Taylor's notorious presidential elite guard known as Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) moved into the vicinity, a few yards from the presidential residence known as Executive Mansion and began forcibly evicting residents from their homes.
Feb. 26, 2001
Africa News
The man fled at midnight after the ATU(Anti-Terrorist Unit) visited him because he called for an inquiry into claims that the President was stealing Sierra Leone's diamonds and amputating children limbs for them.
Feb. 28, 2002
Africa News
His murderous ATU (properly referred to by Liberians as Another Terrorist Unit) and other paramilitary forces routinely loot and burn down entire villages and towns and systematically gang-rape young boys, women and little girls as young as 7 years old
March 5, 2002
Africa News
In late October, members of the ATU reportedly detained and tortured two Nigerian men; both men died as a result of their injuries.
In May Amnesty International reported that security forces, especially the ATU, committed widespread abuses, including killings, torture, and rape, against civilians suspected of supporting armed dissidents in Lofa County
April 9, 2002
Africa news
Instead of restructuring the security apparatus as mandated by Abuja, the Taylor led Government created a paramilitary force, the Anti Terrorist Unit (ATU), comprising mostly of former combatants of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).
Nov. 11, 2002
Africa News
Taylor transformed his rebel National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), whose fighters split the stomach of pregnant women to determine the sex of fetuses during Liberia's civil war, into the national army and security forces. Untrained and paid little or nothing for their services, the ex-NPFL thugs continue their killing spree and to pillage across the country, to maintain control and to compensate themselves.
Dec. 29, 2002
The Washington Post
a military camp in Liberia, near Taylor's private farm, that serves as the base of Liberia's elite Anti-Terrorism Unit and the South African mercenaries who train it.
July 13, 2003
The Washington Post
"We're tired of war," said Gen. Eric Goon, a wounded member of Taylor's elite militia, the Anti-Terrorism Unit. He was interviewed at Monrovia's John F. Kennedy Hospital, where the few wards that are open treat only war wounds and cholera.
Aug. 23, 2003
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
Corporal Thompson Dahn of Mr. Taylor's Anti-Terrorist Unit, a militia that went up against Ms. Black Diamond's women earlier this month
Oct. 16, 2003
Africa News
Anti Terrorist Unit (ATU), an elite presidential security force ...Taylor set up the ATU training camp soon after he won the elections in 1997 and ran it under the training ship of a white South African assisted by an Arab at the Gbatela base in Central Liberia. Taylor's son Chucky Taylor first headed this elite force, but was soon to form his own squad,
Feb. 23, 2006
Africa News
Former President Blah denied having owed the former ATU soldiers, and added that during his tenure as president of Liberia, he was never guided by any militia groups, but rather soldiers from the United Nations, and described the former ATU soldiers as private security guards of Charles Taylor that were paid from his personal pocket and not by the government of Liberia.
Dec. 6, 2006
The Miami Herald
Human rights activists, who have focused world attention on the alleged atrocities in Liberia, hailed the prosecution of Emmanuel, the former head of the 800-man Anti-Terrorism Unit in Liberia.
report by Human Rights Watch described the ATU as a force created by Taylor shortly after he became president in 1997, claiming it was involved in abuse of civilians, extortion, looting, murders, recruitment of child soldiers and torture.
