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Berlin Christmas market attacker may be at large as police not certain they have right suspect – live Berlin Christmas market attack: prosecutors assume armed person still at large – live
(35 minutes later)
2.42pm GMT
14:42
Holger Münch, head of federal crime office, laid out more police doubts during the press conference. He said: “Currently we have one suspect but we are not sure whether he is the perpetrator and we don’t know whether there is only one. We have not found the weapon and that leads us to being in a high state of alert. Our investigations are ongoing to see whether there are other perpetrators that we need to arrest.”
Chief prosecutor Peter Frank admitted that the apparent terrorist motive was still just an assumption. He said this was an assumption based on the “modus operandi, the similarities with the attack in Nice, and the number of dead.”
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at 2.51pm GMT
2.38pm GMT
14:38
Kate Connolly
Michael Behrendt, police reporter with Die Welt who first reported police doubts that they had the perpetrator, said investigators were “absolutely at a loss”, writes Kate Connolly.
“The police have no idea who they’re looking for,” he says. The relief that they had apparently arrested the perpetrator so soon after the attack, has now given way to a sense of helplessness, he said, comparing the search for the apparently armed attacker to “looking for a needle in a haystack”.
“They have no weapon, no DNA traces,” he said.
CCTV footage filmed around Breidscheid Platz was being analysed, in the hope it would come up with information that might help to identify the man. “Until they have any concrete information, it’s still completely unclear what they’re dealing with,” he said.
2.24pm GMT
14:24
Kate Connolly
After laying white roses at the scene of the attack in front of the Memorial Church, Merkel held a lengthy discussion with Berlin police chiefs, writes Kate Connolly.
Looking extremely grave, she slowly walked through the scene of carnage, talking to her ministers, and accompanied by many security guards. She then entered the church - a Berlin symbol of peace, after it was seriously damaged in World War II, where she was due sign condolence books which Berliners have been queuing up to sign all day.
The empty stillness of the market is striking. Normally at this time of the day it would be full of life and kitschy music. Instead, the wooden stalls that were not destroyed in the attack, are closed up.
The church’s marine blue stained glass windows were lit up with candle light.
2.20pm GMT
14:20
Here’s an image of Merkel visiting the scene flanked by her most senior colleagues and the mayor of Berlin.
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at 2.23pm GMT
2.06pm GMT2.06pm GMT
14:0614:06
Prosecutors assuming 'attacker still on the loose'Prosecutors assuming 'attacker still on the loose'
Back at the prosecutors press conference, Münch says: “We need to work on the assumption that an armed perpetrator is still on the loose. As a result of this we are on high alert.”Back at the prosecutors press conference, Münch says: “We need to work on the assumption that an armed perpetrator is still on the loose. As a result of this we are on high alert.”
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2.02pm GMT2.02pm GMT
14:0214:02
Merkel visits the sceneMerkel visits the scene
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Angela Merkel is visiting the scene of the lorry attack. She is flanked by Berlin’s mayor, Michael Müller, the interior minister Thomas De Maizière, and the foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The chancellor lays flowers at the scene.Angela Merkel is visiting the scene of the lorry attack. She is flanked by Berlin’s mayor, Michael Müller, the interior minister Thomas De Maizière, and the foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The chancellor lays flowers at the scene.
Merkel is looking at letters, notes, and candles left by mourners – one sign reads: “Why?” while another says: “The heart of Berlin has been hit.” All the politicians are dressed in black.Close by, a plastic sheet marks the place the lorry crashed into the market.Merkel is looking at letters, notes, and candles left by mourners – one sign reads: “Why?” while another says: “The heart of Berlin has been hit.” All the politicians are dressed in black.Close by, a plastic sheet marks the place the lorry crashed into the market.
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1.57pm GMT1.57pm GMT
13:5713:57
Six Germans have been identified among the dead, according to Münch.Six Germans have been identified among the dead, according to Münch.
1.55pm GMT1.55pm GMT
13:5513:55
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Q: When did the Polish owner of the lorry report to police that his vehicle was missing?Kandt says the first time they knew about the existence of the lorry was after the attack had taken place. He said the fact the owner had no GPS contact to the lorry was unusual, and therefore it was not to be expected that he would have necessarily contacted the police.Q: When did the Polish owner of the lorry report to police that his vehicle was missing?Kandt says the first time they knew about the existence of the lorry was after the attack had taken place. He said the fact the owner had no GPS contact to the lorry was unusual, and therefore it was not to be expected that he would have necessarily contacted the police.
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1.54pm GMT1.54pm GMT
13:5413:54
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Münch, one of the police chiefs, said if no video appears with a claim of responsibility for the attack, it could heighten suspicions that the attacker was a lone wolf.Münch, one of the police chiefs, said if no video appears with a claim of responsibility for the attack, it could heighten suspicions that the attacker was a lone wolf.
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1.53pm GMT1.53pm GMT
13:5313:53
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Questions are being asked as to why US authorities had apparently warned their own citizens to avoid Christmas markets in Germany, back in November, but German authorities did not issue such warnings.Another question being asked: why were no stone bollards erected at the market?Kandt, the Berlin police president, says even if we had put bollards up it would not have prevented the attack. He said there were “so many potential targets” – with 2,500 Christmas markets in Germany, 60 of them in Berlin.Questions are being asked as to why US authorities had apparently warned their own citizens to avoid Christmas markets in Germany, back in November, but German authorities did not issue such warnings.Another question being asked: why were no stone bollards erected at the market?Kandt, the Berlin police president, says even if we had put bollards up it would not have prevented the attack. He said there were “so many potential targets” – with 2,500 Christmas markets in Germany, 60 of them in Berlin.
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1.50pm GMT1.50pm GMT
13:5013:50
Holger Münch, the head of the federal criminal police office, says there is a “question mark” over whether the attacker was an Islamists.Holger Münch, the head of the federal criminal police office, says there is a “question mark” over whether the attacker was an Islamists.
Frank said the authorities should know by this evening whether they arrested the right man. He said it was still not clear whether it was a terrorist attack. He said prosecutors were working on the assumption that it could have been a terrorist act based on the method of the attack. But he stressed that nothing was proven.Frank said the authorities should know by this evening whether they arrested the right man. He said it was still not clear whether it was a terrorist attack. He said prosecutors were working on the assumption that it could have been a terrorist act based on the method of the attack. But he stressed that nothing was proven.
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1.45pm GMT1.45pm GMT
13:4513:45
Berlin’s police chief, Klaus Kandt, is defending the lack of concrete barriers at the Christmas market. He says the risk of terrorist attacks cannot be reduced to zero.Berlin’s police chief, Klaus Kandt, is defending the lack of concrete barriers at the Christmas market. He says the risk of terrorist attacks cannot be reduced to zero.
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1.43pm GMT1.43pm GMT
13:4313:43
Germany’s top federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, has repeated doubts about whether the arrested suspect was behind the attack.Germany’s top federal prosecutor, Peter Frank, has repeated doubts about whether the arrested suspect was behind the attack.
“We have to get used to the idea that he may not have carried out the attack,” he told a press conference in Berlin.“We have to get used to the idea that he may not have carried out the attack,” he told a press conference in Berlin.
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1.37pm GMT
13:37
Beatrix von Storch, an MEP with the rightwing Alternative for Germany party (AfD), has said Angela Merkel and her immigration policy are to blame for the attack.
“We see our chancellor being personally responsible for what has happened. We were warning about this,” she said.
In an interview recorded for Radio 4’s World at One programme before police expressed doubt about whether the suspect they were holding was the attacker, Von Storch said: “It is not possible to let in this many refugees. As far as we know, the terrorist of last night was one of them.
“We think the policy of Angela Merkel and the way she is addressing the migrant crisis is responsible for what is happening.”
Earlier the AfD said Germany’s Christian tradition was under attack.
Annette Groth, of the Left party, accused the AfD of “fuelling racist and xenophobic attitudes and thinking”. She pointed out that immigrants committed fewer crimes than Germans.
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1.13pm GMT
13:13
Jessica Elgot
Theresa May was in touch with Angela Merkel last night to send a message of condolence, but the pair have not spoken by phone, the prime minister’s spokesman has said.
“She expressed that her thoughts are with the people of Berlin and we stand ready to assist in any way we can,” he said.
“The safety and security of British citizens is the government’s No 1 priority. Clearly in the light of what has happened in Berlin police will be reviewing what is in place.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition, tweeted that “we should not allow ourselves to be divided” by the attack.
My thoughts are with those who suffered in the shocking attack in Berlin and their loved ones, we must not allow ourselves to be divided
Updated
at 1.59pm GMT
12.59pm GMT
12:59
Philip Oltermann summarising the key new line to emerge in the last hour: Police in Berlin are unsure whether the 23-year-old Pakistani suspect arrested last night is the attacker.
“At the moment it is unclear if he really was the driver,” said the chief of Berlin’s police, Klaus Kandt.
President of Berlin police Klaus Kandt says "unclear" if arrested suspect was indeed the driver of the vehicle
Updated
at 2.00pm GMT
12.54pm GMT
12:54
The owner of a Polish trucking company says the driver who was the first victim of the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin was stabbed and shot in the cabin of his truck, the Associated Press reports.
Ariel Zurawski says German authorities asked him to identify the victim, Lukasz Urban, 37, from photos.
“His face was swollen and bloodied. It was really clear that he was fighting for his life,” Zurawski said, speaking to broadcaster TVN.
Lukasz Wasik, the manager of the trucking company, described Urban as a “good, quiet and honest person” devoted to his work.
“I believe he would not give up the vehicle and would defend it to the end if were attacked,” Wasik said in comments carried by TVP, Poland’s state broadcaster.
Updated
at 1.08pm GMT
12.51pm GMT
12:51
The Berlin police Twitter feed has urged people to exercise caution as the suspect has denied carrying out of the attack.
The temporary arrested suspect denies the offense. Therefore we are particulary alert. Please be also alert.#Breitscheidplatz
We continue our investigation with emphasis. Please report suspicious observations in #Berlin to #Hinweistelefon under 030 54 024 111
Updated
at 12.53pm GMT
12.46pm GMT
12:46
The chief of police in Berlin said there had been no further arrests, but if there were further suspects the police would do “everything to track them down”.
He added:
• Police were appealing to people at the market to provide witness accounts, pictures and videos of the attack.
• People in Berlin were urged to remain calm.
• Plans for new year celebrations in Berlin would go ahead.
• Security plans were under review.
• A football match in Berlin tomorrow will have heightened security.
• Christmas markets will continue, but with further security measures of large bollards and a large armed police presence.
• Police gave thanks for the support being shown.
Updated
at 12.53pm GMT
12.38pm GMT
12:38
Berlin police chief says not clear man in custody was truck driver
The Berlin police chief has given a press conference. He has revealed that it is not absolutely clear whether the person in police custody is the driver involved in the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. The man, an asylum seeker from Pakistan, has denied the offence.
BREAKING: Berlin police chief: Officials uncertain whether they have correct suspect in truck attack.
Updated
at 12.44pm GMT
12.06pm GMT
12:06
Kate Connolly
According to De Maizière, the suspect, Naved B, speaks Balochi, one of five regional languages spoken in Pakistan. De Maizière said there had been problems questioning him in the past because no translator could be found who spoke Balochi.
Earlier in the press conference, he said the driver had fled the scene and that one of the 12 people who died was found dead on the passenger seat of the truck. He was shot with a pistol, De Maizière said.
De Maizière said we “must not compromise our lifestyle, if we do that the enemies of freedom have already won”, adding: “We are deeply saddened but we also fight for our freedom.”
He confirmed that Christmas markets in Berlin would be closed today, but open in the rest of Germany. “To simply stop would be wrong,” he said.
Updated
at 12.24pm GMT
12.04pm GMT
12:04
De Maizière: arrested man comes from Pakistan and denies involvement
Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, has just given a press conference in Berlin. He confirmed reports that the arrested man is from Pakistan and had applied for asylum. He arrived in Germany on 31 December 2015 and in Berlin in February.
De Maizière also confirmed that the man, arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack, denied the charges.
De Maizière said he was not giving much attention to the Isis message claiming responsibility for the attack.
He confirmed he would attend the vigil for the victims at 6pm in the memorial church on the square where the attack took place.
De Maizière said police would not rest until they had completed their investigation into the attack.
He urged once again for Christmas markets to remain open, but warned people to remain vigilant. He said it would be “a lovely idea to go to a Christmas market and buy a crib”.
Updated
at 12.35pm GMT
12.03pm GMT
12:03
Opening summary
Welcome to our ongoing coverage of Monday evening’s lorry attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. Here is what we know so far: