Strengthening Victim Support: Saxony-Anhalt Joins Nationwide Helpline for Victims of Terrorist Attacks and Major Disasters

Germany Launches 2026 Helpline for Terrorism Victims and Families

The state government has decided that Saxony-Anhalt will participate in a new administrative agreement establishing a joint federal-state helpline for acute and follow-up psychosocial support after terrorist incidents. The agreement is set to take effect on May 1, 2026, with an initial term of three years. Saxony-Anhalt's involvement in the nationwide counseling hotline complements the state's existing support system. Alongside Saxony-Anhalt, the states of Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein, and the Free States of Bavaria and Thuringia are also taking part in the agreement.

Saxony-Anhalt's Minister of Justice, Franziska Weidinger, stated: "The aftermath of the attack on Magdeburg's Christmas market in December 2024 clearly demonstrated how crucial swift, professional psychosocial assistance is for those affected. By joining this federal-state counseling hotline, we are taking proactive steps to strengthen victim support and reaffirming our commitment as a state to stand by those in need."

The helpline will be operated by a specialized external service provider, offering qualified psychosocial support to victims and their families. Staffed by experts in psychotraumatology and crisis intervention, the service is commissioned by the federal and state governments. Professional psychosocial care—including psychoeducation, stabilization, and psychological first aid—plays a central role in protecting victims and helping them cope with trauma.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the Central Contact Point for Victims of Terrorism and Major Disasters (abbreviated ZALOB), which falls under the Ministry of Justice, will coordinate measures with the state's Victims' Commissioner and their office.