In a notice published on 7 August 2026, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said people injured or bereaved by the terrorist attack in Berlin, Germany, on 25 July 2026 can apply under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012. The government communication does not create a new scheme; it directs affected people to the standing overseas terrorism compensation route already administered by CICA. (gov.uk)
For most readers, the first question is whether they fall inside the eligibility gateway. The Berlin notice says the scheme may cover British, EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who were ordinarily resident in the UK, members of the UK armed forces, and close relatives or family members of people in those groups. Separate GOV.UK guidance says applicants must generally have been ordinarily resident in the UK on the date of the incident and for at least the previous three years, although the scheme contains limited alternative routes for meeting the residency test. (gov.uk)
The scheme is wider than bereavement alone. Current GOV.UK guidance says it may apply where someone was physically or mentally injured in a designated overseas terrorist act, where a person witnessed the act or its immediate aftermath and a loved one was injured, or where a partner or qualifying relative is claiming after a death. For bereavement claims, the detailed rules depend on whether the claimant is a qualifying relative under the 2012 scheme. (gov.uk)
CICA describes the overseas terrorism scheme as government-funded and as a route of last resort. In practice, that means claimants may be asked to show they have exhausted travel insurance, employer cover, damages or other benefits before a final award is settled. The same guide says CICA decides cases on the balance of probabilities and does not need to wait for the outcome of a criminal trial if enough evidence is already available. (gov.uk)
The application route is relatively direct. GOV.UK provides separate forms for personal injury and fatal injury claims, and CICA can also help people apply by telephone on 0300 003 3601 in the UK or +44 (0) 203 684 2517 from overseas. The Berlin notice and the scheme guide both state that the helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3pm. (gov.uk)
The government’s own guidance is explicit that a solicitor or claims management company is not required. CICA says free independent advice may be available through local victim support services, trade unions and charities, while the Home Office-backed Support Hub offers a free 24/7 helpline and live chat for people affected by terrorism. That matters because claimants will usually need to assemble proof of nationality, proof of UK residence and medical or bereavement evidence before a claim can be decided. (gov.uk)
CICA’s residency guidance gives a clearer sense of the paperwork burden. It says applicants are usually asked for a passport or similar proof of nationality, plus documents showing a UK address such as pay slips, bank statements, council tax bills, tenancy papers or utility bills. For people affected in Berlin, the administrative test is therefore likely to sit as much in document gathering as in the application form itself. (gov.uk)
Deadlines are likely to be one of the most important practical points. Under the scheme guide, adults should normally apply as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than two years after the last date of the designated act, unless exceptional circumstances apply; if the person affected was under 18 and nobody claimed on their behalf, the usual long-stop is their 20th birthday. On the current timetable, that means an adult claim linked to the Berlin attack of 25 July 2026 would ordinarily be expected by 25 July 2028. (gov.uk)