A study on the Establishment of a Terrorism Response System Centered on Local Autonomous Entity Heads: Focusing on the Cases of the Paris Terrorism in France and the Sydney Hostage Crisis in Australia
Authors:   The Korean Association for Terrorism Studies, Back Jong-Soon , Hong Sung-Woon 
Published: February 2025

The 2014 Sydney hostage crisis and the 2015 Paris terror attacks hold significant implications for global counter-terrorism strategies. Neither incident was directly carried out by international terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda or IS; rather, they were perpetrated by immigrants living in these countries who were influenced by, or had connections to, these groups. In response, both nations have taken concerted steps to establish more effective terrorism response systems. One notable area of improvement in both cases is the development of tailored terrorism response plans that emphasize the critical role of local governments.
In Australia, the response system was adapted to meet the specific needs of its multicultural society. This involved offering information in multiple languages and encouraging participation from individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds in counter-terrorism efforts. In contrast, France, with its centralized national system, places greater emphasis on the role of the central government, often prioritizing reactive measures to terrorist attacks over preventative ones. France’s frequent exposure to terrorist threats has reinforced the perception of an ongoing war against terrorism, further solidifying this approach.
Several key lessons can be drawn from the terrorism response systems of these two countries. First, the importance of sharing intelligence and fostering international cooperation cannot be overstated. Second, proactive measures to address potential terrorist threats are essential. Third, a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to terrorism prevention is critical. Finally, citizen involvement plays a vital role in counter-terrorism efforts. Building on these insights, this paper proposes eight strategies for establishing a terrorism response system in Korea, with a particular focus on local government leadership.
The proposed strategies include: (1) strengthening the role of local government leaders; (2) developing a terrorism response system tailored to regional characteristics; (3) establishing an effective system for sharing terrorist information and enhancing cooperation; (4) securing and efficiently utilizing counter-terrorism resources; (5) creating a rapid response and recovery system for terrorist incidents; (6) expanding citizen participation in terrorism prevention efforts; (7) enhancing the social safety net and promoting the integration of multicultural communities; and (8) implementing specialized counter-terrorism training programs.
Terrorist incidents take place within specific regions, whether they involve a single event or multiple attacks. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a terrorism response system led by local or regional government authorities to strengthen national counter-terrorism capabilities. This paper outlines a plan for establishing and operating a more effective and systematic terrorism response system based on these strategies.