Magdeburg, 5 November 2026 – Colonel Sven Jahn, the new commander of the Saxony-Anhalt Regional Command, has warned of an increase in cyberattacks and hybrid threats. In his first public interview with MDR Saxony-Anhalt he stressed that the security situation required closer coordination between German Armed Forces, state authorities, local councils and operators of critical infrastructure.
Jahn said attacks in the digital and information domains were becoming more professional and more frequent. The Bundeswehr could contribute expertise within the scope of its remit, support exercises and advise civilian partners. He also made clear that law enforcement and responding to specific threats fall under the responsibility of the police authorities and the State Criminal Police Office.
The Saxony-Anhalt Regional Command in Magdeburg is the Bundeswehr’s territorial command authority in the state. Jahn took over command at the beginning of November. His appeal aligns with priorities already set by the state government : a resilience task force was established in 2026, and the state’s participation in LÜKEX 2026 —a cross-state exercise focusing on crisis scenarios—was confirmed in early November. Authorities have also reported an increase in IT security incidents; investigations are continuing, including following a siren alarm in Halle.
Jahn described the Bundeswehr’s role as that of a coordinating actor: military resources alone are not enough to counter cyberattacks and hybrid threats. Coordinated protection plans, shared situational awareness and regular exercises with critical infrastructure operators are needed. He called for societal vulnerabilities to be reduced, for example through robust communication channels, emergency preparedness and reliable information sources.
Jahn cited no specific indications of imminent attacks. His comments reflect an assessment shared by federal authorities and the state: prevention, resilience and cooperation between institutions are regarded as the key pillars. The focus is on technical hardening, rehearsing procedures and speeding up the exchange of relevant data between the Bundeswehr, public authorities and businesses.
It remains to be seen how quickly the announced measures will take effect in practice. Operators and authorities will need to build in redundancy, clarify responsibilities and standardise reporting channels. This is intended to shorten response times and limit consequential damage—in Magdeburg as elsewhere in the state.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).