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Berlin attack: police reportedly seeking Tunisian man – live updates Berlin attack: police reportedly seeking Tunisian man – live updates
(35 minutes later)
1.34pm GMT
13:34
The Islamic State group’s Amaq news agency has published an English version of its claim of responsibility for Monday’s attack.
Here's the English version of IS's claim of responsibility for the truck attack at the Christmas market in #Berlin via Amaq pic.twitter.com/ci15q0Orcn
1.27pm GMT
13:27
The German government has agreed new legislation to strengthen video surveillance.
The move has been planned for months but was approved by the cabinet as police have been scrambling for CCTV footage of Monday’s attack.
The proposed law would make data protection commissioners give greater weight than before to “the protection of life, health and freedom” when deciding whether to permit video surveillance in public places.
Germany has restrictive data protection rules and a suspicion of surveillance.
1.19pm GMT
13:19
Officials in North Rhine-Westphalia, where police have been hunting the main suspect, are due to give a press conference at 3.30pm local time (2.30pm GMT).
The state’s interior minister, Ralf Jaeger, is due make a statement.
NRW-Innenminister Jäger will sich gegen 15.30 Uhr zum neuen Verdächtigen äußern. #Breitscheidplatz
12.53pm GMT12.53pm GMT
12:5312:53
More details are also emerging about Abu Walaa, the “faceless preacher”, who is linked to the main suspect in the Christmas Market attack.More details are also emerging about Abu Walaa, the “faceless preacher”, who is linked to the main suspect in the Christmas Market attack.
He was arrested in November with four others over suspicions that he recruited young Muslims to travel to Syria to fight for Isis, according to a report in the Local citing a report in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.He was arrested in November with four others over suspicions that he recruited young Muslims to travel to Syria to fight for Isis, according to a report in the Local citing a report in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Abu Walaa is alleged to have given sermons in the mosque encouraging people to travel to Syria to fight.Abu Walaa is alleged to have given sermons in the mosque encouraging people to travel to Syria to fight.
SZ reports that [the] arrests were made possible by a statement given by a 22-year-old who returned to Germany in September after fighting for Isis in Syria.SZ reports that [the] arrests were made possible by a statement given by a 22-year-old who returned to Germany in September after fighting for Isis in Syria.
In an interview with SZ while still in Turkey, the young man had described Abu Walaa as “Isis’ number one in Germany.”In an interview with SZ while still in Turkey, the young man had described Abu Walaa as “Isis’ number one in Germany.”
Several German outlets reporting suspect had ties to Salafist network around "faceless preacher" Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A, aka "Abu Walaa"Several German outlets reporting suspect had ties to Salafist network around "faceless preacher" Ahmad Abdulaziz Abdullah A, aka "Abu Walaa"
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at 12.53pm GMTat 12.53pm GMT
12.44pm GMT12.44pm GMT
12:4412:44
Kate ConnollyKate Connolly
Kate Connolly has more on what we know about the new suspect Anis A.Kate Connolly has more on what we know about the new suspect Anis A.
He has links to Salafist groups in western Germany. He is known to police as a dangerous person and is embedded in the Islamist network.He has links to Salafist groups in western Germany. He is known to police as a dangerous person and is embedded in the Islamist network.
Police say they’re carrying out extensive checks in the state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) where he was registered.Police say they’re carrying out extensive checks in the state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) where he was registered.
He is 23, was born in Tataouine in 1992 and has used at least 4 aliases in the past.He is 23, was born in Tataouine in 1992 and has used at least 4 aliases in the past.
In the summer he came to police attention over a GBH offence but he went underground before they were able to arrest him.Police believe he is injured, possibly badly, and are scouring German hospitals to try and find him.In the summer he came to police attention over a GBH offence but he went underground before they were able to arrest him.Police believe he is injured, possibly badly, and are scouring German hospitals to try and find him.
DNA traces from the driver found in the car have been secured. Anis A has addresses both in Berlin and NRW.DNA traces from the driver found in the car have been secured. Anis A has addresses both in Berlin and NRW.
12.39pm GMT12.39pm GMT
12:3912:39
Philip OltermannPhilip Oltermann
A police press conference that had been due to take place at 1pm (12 GMT) has been delayed, writes Philip Oltermann.A police press conference that had been due to take place at 1pm (12 GMT) has been delayed, writes Philip Oltermann.
In the meantime, more detail has emerged about the suspect Anis A from two seemingly well-sourced pieces in Sueddeutsche and from state broadcaster Tagesschau.In the meantime, more detail has emerged about the suspect Anis A from two seemingly well-sourced pieces in Sueddeutsche and from state broadcaster Tagesschau.
He is said to have arrived in Italy in 2012, and came to Germany in July 2015, where he applied for asylum.He is said to have arrived in Italy in 2012, and came to Germany in July 2015, where he applied for asylum.
Since April 2016 his status has been that of Duldung or “temporary suspension of deportation”, which means his application was rejected but he hasn’t been forcefully evicted.Since April 2016 his status has been that of Duldung or “temporary suspension of deportation”, which means his application was rejected but he hasn’t been forcefully evicted.
He was reportedly arrested by police in Friedrichshafen in August this year, and found to be carrying a fake Italian ID document. He had been registered at an asylum shelter in Emmerich on the Rhine, on the Dutch-German border.He was reportedly arrested by police in Friedrichshafen in August this year, and found to be carrying a fake Italian ID document. He had been registered at an asylum shelter in Emmerich on the Rhine, on the Dutch-German border.
He had contacts with the circle around the hate preacher Ahmad Abdelazziz A., also known as Abu Walaa, who was arrested in November.He had contacts with the circle around the hate preacher Ahmad Abdelazziz A., also known as Abu Walaa, who was arrested in November.
Sueddeutsche reports that Anis A’s telecommunications had been watched by German intelligence agencies but that he disappeared off the radar in December. He had reportedly approached a man who worked as a police source in North-Rhine Westphalia to enquire about obtaining weapons.Sueddeutsche reports that Anis A’s telecommunications had been watched by German intelligence agencies but that he disappeared off the radar in December. He had reportedly approached a man who worked as a police source in North-Rhine Westphalia to enquire about obtaining weapons.
12.30pm GMT12.30pm GMT
12:3012:30
Alexander Ritzmann, director the European Foundation for Democracy and chairman of the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network, said that if the suspect left identity documents in the truck that could point to a terrorist attack.Alexander Ritzmann, director the European Foundation for Democracy and chairman of the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network, said that if the suspect left identity documents in the truck that could point to a terrorist attack.
Speaking to BBC News, he said: “It would fit into the pattern of terrorist organisations to leave behind documents. They are not supposed to hide the identities of the attackers or hide the organisation that commits the attack.”Speaking to BBC News, he said: “It would fit into the pattern of terrorist organisations to leave behind documents. They are not supposed to hide the identities of the attackers or hide the organisation that commits the attack.”
He added: “Terrorism is an extreme form of political communication so they supposed to explain what they did, how they did it and why they did it.”He added: “Terrorism is an extreme form of political communication so they supposed to explain what they did, how they did it and why they did it.”
He also noted that Christmas markets have been targeted by extremists for “years”.He also noted that Christmas markets have been targeted by extremists for “years”.
12.14pm GMT12.14pm GMT
12:1412:14
German media have published pictures of the new suspect with his eyes covered or pixelated.German media have published pictures of the new suspect with his eyes covered or pixelated.
Image of Berlin market attack suspect, Anis A. or Ahmed A. according to @Bild. 24 year old Tunisian registered in NRW pic.twitter.com/BJO0GjHWBHImage of Berlin market attack suspect, Anis A. or Ahmed A. according to @Bild. 24 year old Tunisian registered in NRW pic.twitter.com/BJO0GjHWBH
Nach dem Anschlag in Berlin fahndet die Polizei bundesweit nach dem verdächtigten Tunesier… https://t.co/BlpDcEn6Sw pic.twitter.com/vfg6Ekzz4DNach dem Anschlag in Berlin fahndet die Polizei bundesweit nach dem verdächtigten Tunesier… https://t.co/BlpDcEn6Sw pic.twitter.com/vfg6Ekzz4D
12.07pm GMT12.07pm GMT
12:0712:07
Opening summaryOpening summary
Welcome to Wednesday’s live coverage of the manhunt for the suspect or suspects in the Christmas market attack in Berlin. Here is what we know:Welcome to Wednesday’s live coverage of the manhunt for the suspect or suspects in the Christmas market attack in Berlin. Here is what we know:
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.14pm GMTat 12.14pm GMT