The municipality of Kirkel, located in Saarland, Germany, experienced a cyberattack on March 14, 2025. The internal IT department discovered the security incident and immediately isolated the affected systems to protect data. As a result, the Kirkel Town Hall remains closed for the time being, and the municipality is unable to communicate via email. Citizens are advised to reach out for urgent matters by calling the provided emergency phone number.
Mayor Dominik Hochlenert confirmed that the local administration is collaborating with the State Criminal Police Office.
The police are currently investigating how the cyberattack occurred, while external experts have been brought in to assist with the ongoing investigation. Efforts are focused on understanding the extent of the attack and ensuring the municipality’s systems can be restored securely.
The cyberattack has significantly disrupted the town’s operations, with services at the town hall currently unavailable.
Due to the isolation of IT systems, the municipality has taken steps to prioritize data security and protection. Although the services are down, local authorities are working to resolve the issue and resume normal operations.
The municipality has pledged to keep citizens informed and provide regular updates as the situation develops. Further information will be shared as soon as any new findings are made available. Meanwhile, Kirkel’s residents are urged to stay patient while the investigation into the cyberattack continues.
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