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Berlin attack: Police say lorry crash 'probably terror attack' | Berlin attack: Police say lorry crash 'probably terror attack' |
(35 minutes later) | |
German police are investigating a "probable terrorist attack" after a man ploughed a lorry into a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. | German police are investigating a "probable terrorist attack" after a man ploughed a lorry into a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48. |
The driver, reportedly a Pakistani asylum seeker who entered Germany last year, is being questioned. | The driver, reportedly a Pakistani asylum seeker who entered Germany last year, is being questioned. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be "particularly sickening" if he were proven to be a refugee. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it would be "particularly sickening" if he were proven to be a refugee. |
He was reportedly known to police for minor crimes, but not terror links. | He was reportedly known to police for minor crimes, but not terror links. |
German media say police have searched a refugee shelter at a defunct Berlin airport where the suspect was believed to be staying. | German media say police have searched a refugee shelter at a defunct Berlin airport where the suspect was believed to be staying. |
Live: Latest updates | Live: Latest updates |
Berlin attack: What we know | |
"We have to assume this was a terrorist attack", Mrs Merkel said in a short statement on Tuesday. | |
Those behind the attack would be punished "as harshly as the law allows", she added. | |
What happened? | What happened? |
The market is at Breitscheidplatz, close to the Kurfuerstendamm, the main shopping street in Berlin's west. | The market is at Breitscheidplatz, close to the Kurfuerstendamm, the main shopping street in Berlin's west. |
The attack happened in the shadow of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was damaged in a World War Two bombing raid and preserved as a symbol of peace. | The attack happened in the shadow of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was damaged in a World War Two bombing raid and preserved as a symbol of peace. |
The truck, which was loaded with steel beams, veered into the market at 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT), one of its busiest times. It crashed through wooden huts and stands packed with tourists and locals. | The truck, which was loaded with steel beams, veered into the market at 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT), one of its busiest times. It crashed through wooden huts and stands packed with tourists and locals. |
The DPA news agency said police believe the lorry drove 50-80 metres (160-260 ft) through the market area. | The DPA news agency said police believe the lorry drove 50-80 metres (160-260 ft) through the market area. |
What do we know about the suspect? | What do we know about the suspect? |
German media have identified the suspect, citing security sources, as a 23-year-old Pakistani named Naved B who entered the country in either late 2015 or early 2016. | |
Reports said special forces had stormed a hangar at Berlin's Tempelhof airport where they believed the suspect had been living in a shelter before the attack. | Reports said special forces had stormed a hangar at Berlin's Tempelhof airport where they believed the suspect had been living in a shelter before the attack. |
Police spokesman Winfried Wenzel said he was seized after leaving the lorry and fleeing on foot for more than a mile (2km) towards the Tiergarten, a large public park. | Police spokesman Winfried Wenzel said he was seized after leaving the lorry and fleeing on foot for more than a mile (2km) towards the Tiergarten, a large public park. |
A witness who followed him called the police, who quickly detained the suspect near the Victory Column monument. | A witness who followed him called the police, who quickly detained the suspect near the Victory Column monument. |
Where did the lorry come from? | Where did the lorry come from? |
Police said a Polish man, believed to be the original driver, had been found dead on the passenger seat. | Police said a Polish man, believed to be the original driver, had been found dead on the passenger seat. |
Ariel Zurawski, the Polish owner of the lorry, confirmed that his driver was missing and had been unreachable since 16:00 (15:00 GMT) on Monday. | Ariel Zurawski, the Polish owner of the lorry, confirmed that his driver was missing and had been unreachable since 16:00 (15:00 GMT) on Monday. |
"We don't know what happened to him," he told the AFP news agency. "He's my cousin, I've known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him." | "We don't know what happened to him," he told the AFP news agency. "He's my cousin, I've known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him." |
The truck was registered in Poland, but it is unclear whether it was travelling from Poland or returning from Italy, as some reports suggest. | The truck was registered in Poland, but it is unclear whether it was travelling from Poland or returning from Italy, as some reports suggest. |
How has Germany reacted? | How has Germany reacted? |
Chancellor Merkel said she was "shocked and very saddened" by the attack but added "we don't want to live with fear of evil". | |
Germany's interior ministry said Christmas markets in Berlin would remain closed on Tuesday but other markets outside of the capital will operate as normal. | |
A senior member of Germany's anti-immigration AfD party, Marcus Pretzell, blamed Mrs Merkel for the attack, linking it to her open-door migration policy which saw the arrival of more than one million people last year. | A senior member of Germany's anti-immigration AfD party, Marcus Pretzell, blamed Mrs Merkel for the attack, linking it to her open-door migration policy which saw the arrival of more than one million people last year. |
What do eyewitnesses say happened? | What do eyewitnesses say happened? |
A British eyewitness, Mike Fox, told Associated Press that the 25-tonne lorry had missed him by only about three metres as it smashed through stands and knocked down a large Christmas tree. | A British eyewitness, Mike Fox, told Associated Press that the 25-tonne lorry had missed him by only about three metres as it smashed through stands and knocked down a large Christmas tree. |
"It was definitely deliberate," said the tourist. | "It was definitely deliberate," said the tourist. |
He said he had helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands. | He said he had helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands. |
Australian Trisha O'Neill told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she witnessed "blood and bodies everywhere". | Australian Trisha O'Neill told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she witnessed "blood and bodies everywhere". |
"I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed. | "I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed. |
"I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there." | "I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there." |
'I heard the noise and the screams' | |
Is this the first such attack? | Is this the first such attack? |
A series of small-scale attacks by Islamist militants alarmed Germany earlier this year. Ten people were killed and dozens more injured in separate gun, bomb, axe and machete attacks in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg in July. | A series of small-scale attacks by Islamist militants alarmed Germany earlier this year. Ten people were killed and dozens more injured in separate gun, bomb, axe and machete attacks in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg in July. |
A year of terror in Germany | A year of terror in Germany |
But Monday's incident was reminiscent of the lorry attack on Bastille Day crowds in the French city of Nice on 14 July, claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS). | But Monday's incident was reminiscent of the lorry attack on Bastille Day crowds in the French city of Nice on 14 July, claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS). |
The mayor of Nice, Philippe Pradal, said the Berlin incident shared the same "blind violence" as the attack on his city. | The mayor of Nice, Philippe Pradal, said the Berlin incident shared the same "blind violence" as the attack on his city. |
Both IS and al-Qaeda have urged their followers to use trucks as a means to attack crowds. | Both IS and al-Qaeda have urged their followers to use trucks as a means to attack crowds. |
The US labelled the tragedy an apparent "terrorist attack" and pledged its support. | The US labelled the tragedy an apparent "terrorist attack" and pledged its support. |
President-elect Donald Trump blamed "Islamist terrorists" for a "slaughter" of Christians in the German capital. | President-elect Donald Trump blamed "Islamist terrorists" for a "slaughter" of Christians in the German capital. |
"Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany - and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!" he tweeted. | "Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany - and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!" he tweeted. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |