What to do in the event of a right-wing assault.

What to do…

if I were attacked?

during an attack?

if I am a witness?

after a right-wing attack?

What can I do if I am assaulted?

Try to keep calm and get help. If you are hurt, call an ambulance; state your name and your location on the phone and explain what has happened.

Talk to witnesses of the assault and take their contact details (name, address, mobile phone number); these are needed in the prosecution of the offenders.

We recommend that you write down what happened to you soon after the assault (known as a report from memory). Court proceedings against the offenders usually take place months or even years after the incident, so anything that may aid your memory at a later time is helpful. Only write down the things that you yourself can actually remember. The following questions may help you write your report:

• Place and date: When and where were you assaulted?
• Sequence of the assault: What happened exactly? How exactly were you assaulted? Were the offenders armed?
• Description of the offenders: Who assaulted you? What did the offenders look like? Did the offenders say anything? Did anything stand out?
• Injuries: What injuries did you sustain?
• Environment: Who else was there? Were there any witnesses? How did bystanders react?

We recommend seeing a doctor soon after the assault and asking them to document your injuries. Ask for a medical certificate.
Be sure to take your own photos of your injuries and any property damage.

If the police was not at the scene of the assault, think about whether you want to file a report. If you decide to do so, you can file a report on the assault with the police or the public prosecutor’s office. Ask the police for confirmation that you have filed the report and a file number; the latter allows you to check the status of investigations with the police.

Don’t try to deal with this on your own. Talk to your friends and family about the assault and contact B.U.D.; we will help you take all necessary steps.

What can I do during an assault?

If you are being assaulted, you are probably in a mental state of emergency. Nevertheless, it is important to keep as calm as you can and face the person in front of you with confidence. These are some ways you can react during an assault.

• Try to keep your distance and set boundaries.
• Address the assailants loudly, using short statements: “Leave me alone” or “Stop it.” Raise your
• arms in front of your body with your hands open to physically establish a boundary with the attackers.
• If you feel that the situation is extremely threatening, proceed to the nearest public place or building where there are other people.
• Ask specific people for help: “You in the red jacket, I’m being assaulted, call the police.”

What can I do if I witness a right-wing assault?

If you witness a right-wing, racist or anti-Semitic assault, it is important to stay with the victims and to support them. For victims, the fact that no one intervened or offered to help is almost as bad as the assault itself. Here are some simple tips on how you can support victims in situations like these.

• Address the victim and ask if they need your help.
• Depending on the situation, this might be a way to strike up a conversation and leave the area together.
• If that is not possible, calmly but firmly ask the perpetrators to leave the person alone.
• Ask other bystanders to intervene as well. If necessary, address them directly, for example: “Hey, you in the green jacket, could you please call the bus driver?”
• Make yourself available as a witness after the assault; This can be of great importance in the event that the perpetrators are prosecuted. After the attack, ask the person involved how they are doing and what they need right now. Give them your contact information. If necessary, also find the contact information for a counseling center.
• Write down your recollection of the incident as soon as possible. This can be crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events. It should include the following information:
  When and where did the attack take place?
  How did this happen? How did the attack unfold?
  What did the perpetrators look like (distinctive clothing, tattoos, facial features)?
  What exactly did each of the perpetrators do? What did they say while doing so?
  Are there any other witnesses?

How I might feel after an assault

A right-wing assault is a drastic experience for victims and can have wide-ranging consequences for your physical and mental health.

You may find yourself replaying the incident constantly in your mind, being afraid to leave your home or avoiding certain places and situations that are related to what you have experienced. You may suffer nightmares and insomnia, even if you have never had these kind of problems before. You may even find that your personality has changed and that other people irritate you or that you are more withdrawn. Possibly you feel you no longer know yourself; you may even blame yourself for what has happened. Experiencing a right-wing assault can throw you severely off course and sustainably undermine your trust in your fellow human beings and society. It is important that you do not try to deal with your fear and your feelings on your own: talk to your family and friends and tell them how you feel.

The physical symptoms are a completely normal reaction to a violent incident and often fade over time. However, if your health does not improve, or even worsens, and you still don’t feel better after several weeks have gone by, please seek professional help.

Contact us at +49 151 21653187 or via our online counselling services. We can talk to you about your experience, counsel you on your health and help you find a suitable therapeutic offer, if required.