Berlin CSD attack: Victim support shifts to long-term care

Four weeks after the Islamist terror attack on the sidelines of the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin, the acute phase of support for victims and those affected has concluded. "We are now in personal consultations with those affected to enable tailored assistance," stated Federal Victim Representative Roland Weber to the German Press Agency. "We are increasingly focusing on longer-term care options," Weber explained.

According to Weber, most of the injured individuals have now been able to leave the hospital. The focus is now on supporting them in finding rehabilitation options. Weber noted that so far, he has received no complaints, which he interprets as a sign that the support system is functioning effectively and that people are being helped. Affected individuals are entitled to medical or psychological assistance, as well as prompt material support.

A free hotline operated by the victim representative has since been deactivated, as calls had decreased significantly about two weeks after the attack. The hotline had been available for victims of the attack, bereaved families, the injured and their relatives, as well as eyewitnesses or individuals who provided immediate first aid at the scene.

To assist the victims of the attack, Weber, in cooperation with the Central Contact Point for Victims of Terrorist Attacks in Berlin, has established contact with the relatives of the deceased woman and the injured, as far as they are known. They have received comprehensive information about available support options, including hotlines, online resources, networks, and aid organizations. The attack on July 25th in Berlin's Tiergarten saw a 21-year-old perpetrator drive a van into several pedestrians before injuring others, presumably with a machete. One woman died, and at least 31 people were injured, seven of them severely. The perpetrator was shot dead by police on Sunday evening after being cornered in a garden colony.