In a notice published on GOV.UK after the Christopher Street Day terror attack in Berlin, the UK government said people injured or bereaved by the incident may be able to seek compensation through the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012. The statement is narrow in scope, directing affected people to the existing compensation route rather than announcing a new scheme. The practical effect is to identify the formal mechanism available to victims and families. It also makes clear that entitlement depends on the scheme rules, not simply on the fact that the incident prompted official sympathy.
According to the government notice, the scheme may cover British citizens and EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who were ordinarily resident in the UK, where they were injured or bereaved by the attack. Members of the UK armed forces are also within scope, along with close relatives or family members of people in those categories where the rules provide for it. That matters because overseas terrorism cases often involve several jurisdictions at once. The UK scheme offers a domestic compensation route for qualifying applicants even though the attack took place abroad, but it still applies defined residence, nationality and family-relationship tests.
The government also made clear that the notice does not amount to a full statement of eligibility. Further criteria apply, and applicants are directed to the official scheme guide for the detailed conditions that govern whether a claim can proceed. For bereaved families and injured survivors, that is an important distinction. A public announcement may point to assistance, but the assessment still turns on the scheme's formal requirements and the evidence provided with an application.
Applications are made through the published forms for compensation for victims of terrorism, with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority acting as the administrative contact point. The notice directs affected people to the online application route rather than to any local or consular process. CICA's helpline was listed as 0300 003 3601 from within the UK and +44 (0)203 684 2517 from outside the UK. Opening hours were given as 8.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, which is likely to matter for applicants dealing with overseas documentation and time-sensitive queries.
One of the clearest points in the government message is that applicants do not need a solicitor or claims management company to make a claim. In policy terms, the scheme is intended to be directly accessible, without a paid intermediary as a condition of entry. The notice instead signposts free independent advice, depending on where the applicant lives, including services for England and Wales and for Scotland, alongside support from charitable organisations. That is designed to reduce avoidable costs at a point when families may already be facing travel, medical or funeral expenses.
The government also stated that British and non-British nationals may be able to receive other forms of support outside the compensation process. The article does not define those measures in detail, but the point is that compensation is only one part of the response available to those affected. Taken together, the notice functions as a practical guide to the first steps after an overseas terrorist incident: check whether the statutory scheme may apply, use the official CICA route, and seek independent support before paying for representation that is not required.