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Berlin lorry attack: What we know Berlin lorry attack: What we know
(1 day later)
A lorry smashed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin on 19 December, killing 12 people and injuring 49, leaving 18 in a critical condition.A lorry smashed into a crowded Christmas market in central Berlin on 19 December, killing 12 people and injuring 49, leaving 18 in a critical condition.
So-called Islamic State (IS) said the following day that one of its "soldiers" carried out the attack on Breitscheidplatz Christmas market, but offered no evidence. The prime suspect, Tunisian man Anis Amri, was shot dead by Italian police on 23 December in the city of Milan after a Europe-wide manhunt.
Police initially detained a 23-year-old Pakistani man, who denied any involvement and was later released after questioning by investigators. So-called Islamic State (IS) has said one of its "soldiers" carried out the attack on Breitscheidplatz Christmas market, without offering evidence.
After an inspection of the lorry, which was registered in Poland, authorities discovered legal papers belonging to a Tunisian man, Anis Amri, triggering a Europe-wide manhunt. German police had initially detained a 23-year-old Pakistani man, who denied any involvement and was released after questioning.
Amri's fingerprints were later discovered on the door of the lorry. After an inspection of the lorry, which was registered in Poland, authorities discovered legal identity papers belonging to Amri. Amri's fingerprints were also later discovered in the vehicle's cabin.
It is thought that Amri may have been injured in a struggle with the Polish driver, who was found murdered in the cab following the attack. It was thought that Amri, 24, had been injured in a struggle with the Polish driver, found murdered in the cab.
German authorities later warned that Amri was likely to be armed and offered a reward of up to €100,000 (£84,000; $104,000) for information leading to his arrest. Amri was shot dead after firing at Italian police officers who had stopped his car for a routine check, the Italian authorities say.
What happened? Amri reportedly pulled a gun from his backpack, shouted "God is greatest" in Arabic and opened fire, injuring an officer. A second policeman then returned fire, killing him.
How did the market attack happen?
At 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT) the lorry, laden with steel beams, crashed into people gathered around wooden huts and stands selling mulled wine and sausages.At 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT) the lorry, laden with steel beams, crashed into people gathered around wooden huts and stands selling mulled wine and sausages.
The market was packed with tourists and locals, at Breitscheidplatz, near Berlin's famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which was damaged in a World War Two bombing raid. The market was packed with tourists and locals, at Breitscheidplatz, near Berlin's famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
The lorry drove 50-80 metres (160-260 ft) through the market.The lorry drove 50-80 metres (160-260 ft) through the market.
Witnesses reckoned its speed to be about 64km/h (40mph), as it sent market stalls flying, leaving a trail of debris and casualties.Witnesses reckoned its speed to be about 64km/h (40mph), as it sent market stalls flying, leaving a trail of debris and casualties.
After the lorry stopped, the driver reportedly fled into the darkness of the Tiergarten park.After the lorry stopped, the driver reportedly fled into the darkness of the Tiergarten park.
One witness set off in pursuit for more than a mile (2km), then called the police. Soon after that the Pakistani man was arrested near the park's Victory Column monument. One witness set off in pursuit, then called the police. The Pakistani man was later arrested near the park's Victory Column monument.
He was later released.
The lorry's Polish driver, named as Lukasz Urban, 37, was found dead in the passenger seat. Police said he appeared to be the victim of a hijack.The lorry's Polish driver, named as Lukasz Urban, 37, was found dead in the passenger seat. Police said he appeared to be the victim of a hijack.
A pistol apparently used to kill him has not been found. A pistol apparently used to kill him was not found at the scene.
The German news website Focus said analysis of the lorry's GPS data showed that its engine had been started several times on Monday afternoon, suggesting that someone had been learning to drive it. The German news website Focus says analysis of the lorry's GPS data shows that its engine was started several times on Monday afternoon, suggesting that someone was learning to drive it.
At 19:34, the lorry set off for Breitscheidplatz.At 19:34, the lorry set off for Breitscheidplatz.
Who is the suspect? Who was Anis Amri?
Anis Amri, 24, was known to authorities and was under surveillance in Berlin between March and September. His full name was Anis Ben-Mustafa Ben-Outhman Amri.
He was reportedly monitored on suspicion of planning a robbery in order to pay for guns, but surveillance was lifted for lack of evidence. He was known to authorities and was under surveillance in Berlin between March and September.
Before arriving in Germany in July 2015, Amri served four years in prison in Italy over a fire at a school and refugee reception centre. Amri was reportedly monitored on suspicion of planning a robbery in order to pay for guns, but surveillance was lifted for lack of evidence.
He was also sentenced to five years in prison in Tunisia in absentia, reportedly for aggravated theft with violence. He was facing deportation as of June this year but remained in Germany because of a delay in receiving paperwork from Tunisia confirming his identity.
According to German police, Amri, born on 22 December 1992, used six different aliases, at times trying to pass himself off as Egyptian or Lebanese. Before arriving in Germany in July 2015, Amri served four years in prison in Italy for arson.
He was facing deportation as of June this year but remained in Germany because of a delay in receiving paperwork from Tunisia. Italian officials said he had arrived in Italy illegally by boat in 2011 after fleeing Tunisia during the Arab Spring revolutions.
Officials later confirmed that Amri had attracted the attention of counter-terrorism police.
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
So far, along with the driver, two other victims of the lorry attack on the crowded Breitscheidplatz market have been officially named. So far, along with the driver, two other victims of the lorry attack have been officially named:
Fabrizia di Lorenzo, 31, was among those killed, the Italian foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday. Ms di Lorenzo was an Italian expatriate who worked for a transport company in Germany and lived in Berlin.
Another victim, Israeli tourist Dalia Elyakim, 60, was visiting Berlin with her husband when she was killed on Monday.
Two Germans - a 32-year-old man from Brandenburg an der Havel and a 53-year-old woman from Dahme-Spreewald - were also among the dead, the state's interior ministry said, without naming them.Two Germans - a 32-year-old man from Brandenburg an der Havel and a 53-year-old woman from Dahme-Spreewald - were also among the dead, the state's interior ministry said, without naming them.
A German woman from Neuss, near the west German city of Duesseldorf, is also believed to have died. Her son, aged 40, is among the injured.A German woman from Neuss, near the west German city of Duesseldorf, is also believed to have died. Her son, aged 40, is among the injured.
In total, it is believed six Germans were killed in the attack, although five people remain unidentified, according to German website RP Online.In total, it is believed six Germans were killed in the attack, although five people remain unidentified, according to German website RP Online.
Are there Islamist links, as in the Nice or Paris atrocities?Are there Islamist links, as in the Nice or Paris atrocities?
The attack in Berlin was claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS). The lorry attack in the French city of Nice in July, carried out by a Tunisian-born man, was also claimed by IS.
The Nice beachfront attack, carried out by a Tunisian-born man, was also claimed by IS.
The jihadist group - currently being attacked by Western and Russian warplanes in Iraq and Syria - has urged its supporters to use vehicles to attack Westerners.The jihadist group - currently being attacked by Western and Russian warplanes in Iraq and Syria - has urged its supporters to use vehicles to attack Westerners.
Germany was shocked by four attacks in the summer, two of which - by asylum seekers - were claimed by IS. In November 2015, gunmen and suicide bombers simultaneously targeted a concert hall, a stadium and restaurants in Paris, leaving 130 people dead and hundreds more wounded. The attacks were claimed by IS.
Earlier this year, Germany was shocked by four attacks, two of which - by asylum seekers - were also claimed by IS.
Alternative for Germany (AfD), an increasingly popular anti-immigrant party, warned that Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" policy towards refugees in 2014-2015 had created a big security risk.Alternative for Germany (AfD), an increasingly popular anti-immigrant party, warned that Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" policy towards refugees in 2014-2015 had created a big security risk.