counter-terrorism

Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. Counter-terrorism is not specific to any one field or organization; rather, it involves entities from all levels of society. For instance, businesses have security plans and sometimes share commercial data with the government. Local police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel (often called "first responders") have plans for dealing with terrorist attack. Armies conduct combat operations against terrorists, often using special forces. Building a counter-terrorism plan involves all segments of a society or many government agencies.

Counter terrorist tactical units

Today, many of the western countries have special units, designated to handle terrorist threats. Besides various security agencies, there are elite tactical units whose role is to directly engage terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks. Such units perform both in preventive actions, hostage rescue and responding to on-going attacks. These units are specially trained and equipped for CQB with emphasis on stealth and performing the mission with minimal casualties. The units include take-over force, snipers, EOD experts, dog operators and intelligence officers. Examples for such units are the Israeli Sayeret Matkal (military) and YAMAM (civilian) ; the American SWAT teams ; the British SAS and the Austrian Cobra unit ; the German GSG-9.

Counter-terrorist units, by country

USA	SWAT, various law enforcement agencies
Britain	SAS, MI5, Anti-terrorist Branch (Metropolitan Police)
Afghanistan	Afghan national army ?
Albania	Special Operations and Counter terrorist Forces of Albania
Algeria	BMPJ, DGSN
American Samoa	Defense is the responsibility of the USA
Andorra	defense is responsibility of France
Angola	Angolan army ?
Anguilla	Defense is responsibility of the UK
Antarctica	Military action is expressly forbidden by the UN in this area
Antigua and Barbuda	Royal Antigua and Barbuda defense force
Argentina	Brigada Especial Operativa Halcon
Armenia	?
Australia	SAS Australian Regiment
Austria	GEK, WEGA, COBRA
The Bahamas	Royal Bahamas Defense Force
Bahrain	Security and Intelligence Service
Bangladesh	?
Barbados	Royal Barbados Defense Force
Belarus	?
Belgium	Surete de l Etat, SGI - General Intelligence and Security Service
Belize	Belize Defense Force
Benin	?
Bermuda	defense is the responsibility of the UK
Bhutan	Royal Bhutan Army
Bolivia	Ejercito Boliviano (army) counter terrorism unit
Bosnia and Herzegovina	?
Botswana	Botsawna Defense force
Brazil	The Brazilian Army's 1st Special Forces Battalion
Brunei	Receives support from Australia
Bulgaria	National Service for Detecting and Preventing Terrorist Activities on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria
Burma	?
Cambodia	Royal Cambodian Armed Forces' 911 Para-Commando Battalion
Cameroon	?
Canada	Joint Task Force 2
Central African Republic	?
Chad	currently being trained by USA
Chile	UAT, GOPE
China	Special Police Unit
Colombia	AFEU