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  1. Home
  2. There's been a terrorist situation

There's been a terrorist situation

Last Updated
Wednesday, 24/11/2021

Terrorism remains a threat to Australians living and travelling overseas. Many terrorist groups have demonstrated the intent and capability to undertake attacks, including against Australian interests.

This page provides information about:

  • what to do if there's been a terrorist attack
  • how the Australian Government can help you overseas
  • assistance and support when you return to Australia

This page is for Australians overseas who have experienced a terrorist incident in their location. If you're looking for information about staying safe and avoiding problems, see our general information and advice on terrorism worldwide.

What to do if there's a terrorist attack

1. Get to safety

If there's a terrorist attack or incident, leave the immediate area as soon as it's safe. If the incident isn't in your immediate vicinity, avoid the area where it happened.

The Australian Government can't guarantee your safety and security in another country.

2. Get medical assistance

If you've been injured after a terrorist incident, get to a hospital quickly. You may need emergency medical assistance.

  • You may need to pay for treatment upfront, or hand over your travel insurance details, before the hospital will treat you.
  • If you don't have travel insurance, you may need to contact your family or friends back home for money.
  • If you need emergency or crisis counselling, contact Lifeline in Australia.

If you need help finding a doctor or hospital where English is spoken, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate. Consular officers can give you a list of local hospitals and health professionals where English is spoken.

3. Contact your family and friends

Let your family and friends know you're safe. If they've heard about the incident from the media, they may fear for your safety.

4. Stay informed

Stay informed. The attack may not be over yet. Assume the threat still exists until local authorities confirm it's over.

  • Check media and social media for new threats.
  • Take official warnings seriously.
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities, unless we advise you not to.

If you subscribed to Smartraveller, check your emails regularly. We'll send an email alert when we update the travel advice or advice level. You may also receive an SMS for critical alerts if you have opted to receive them.

5. Stay vigilant

If there's still an active terrorist threat, be aware in places known to be possible targets. This can include:

  • public transport
  • shopping areas
  • places of worship
  • sporting venues
  • airports and other transport hubs
  • places foreigners visit

If you do go out in public, report any suspicious activities or items to police. Contact details for police are in the 'Contacts' section of each destination's travel advice.

6. Decide if you'll stay in the country

It's your choice whether or not you stay in the country after a terrorist attack. The Australian Government can't make you leave. However the government where the attack took place can.

Be aware that if you decide to stay, we may not be able to help you.

How the Australian Government can help overseas

The Australian Government is limited in how and when it can help Australians. It's important to understand our limits. You also need to know what help and support you'll need to ask your family or travel insurer for after an incident.

To contact the Australian Government in an emergency:

  • Contact the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate
  • Phone the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra on +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can’t do to help you overseas.

What we can do

  • We can provide emergency consular support.
  • We can support you to get medical help by providing a list of local hospitals with doctors who speak English.
  • We can contact your relatives or friends, with your consent.
  • We can help you access local support and counselling services, where available.
  • We can transfer you to an Australian counselling service, including Lifeline.

What we can't do

  • We can't guarantee your safety and security in another country.
  • We can't give you legal or medical advice.
  • We can't make decisions for you, or make you leave a country.
  • We can't make your travel arrangements.
  • We can't force local authorities to act.

Assistance when you return to Australia

Department of Human Services support

The Department of Human Services may provide a payment for Australian victims of terrorism overseas. This is a one-off payment if you suffer harm from a declared overseas terrorist act. You may be eligible for this payment if you:

  • were an Australian resident on the day the declared overseas terrorist act occurred and you were living permanently in Australia
  • and your close family members were not involved in the commission of the declared overseas terrorist act
  • were in the place and were harmed as a direct result of the declared overseas terrorist act, or
  • are the close family member of a person who was in the place and who died as a direct result of a declared overseas terrorist act

See the Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment page for more information. Also see the Department of Human Services information about its crisis and special help services.

Crisis counselling and support

If you're a victim of a terrorist attack and need crisis counselling when you return to Australia, get help immediately.

  • Contact the Lifeline 24-hour hotline on 13 11 44. Lifeline provides 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Contact the beyondblue 24-hour hotline on 1300 22 4636. All calls are one-on-one with a trained mental health professional.

The Department of Health publishes more information on mental health support. See healthdirect's information about where to get help, including their list of helplines and services.

Read more

  • Our travel advice for information on safety and security.
  • Subscribe to travel advice. We'll email you when we update the travel advice or advice level.
  • For more information about travel advice, see travel advice explained.
  • Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can’t do for Australians overseas.
  • For information about staying safe and avoiding terrorist incidents, see our general information and advice on terrorism worldwide.

See also

  • See more about listed terrorist organisations (National Security, Australian Government)
  • Learn about the payment for Australian victims of terrorism overseas (Department of Human Services)
  • Read the Annual Terrorism Report for trends in terrorist attacks (US State Department)

Related content

A volcano has erupted

Find out what to do if you're travelling overseas and a volcano has erupted in or near your location. Learn how and where to get help.

View details
There's a severe weather incident

What to do if you're travelling overseas and there's been a hurricane, tornado or other severe weather incident in or near your location.

View details
Staying safe when there's a natural disaster

A disaster can happen anywhere, anytime. However, some destinations experience certain types of natural disasters more often.

View details

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Was this information helpful?

Your feedback will help us improve your experience.

Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

For information about Australian visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For more information go to about us.

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      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
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      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
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  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Armed conflict
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
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      • العربية (Arabic)
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    • Resources
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      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Fact sheet: Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement