On Monday evening a truck raced into the Christmas market at the Berlin Gedächtniskirche. First suspicions: It is a terrorist attack.
Photo: iStock
- What happened in Berlin?
- Are there any victims of the alleged attack?
- Who committed the crime?
- Was it even an attack?
- What do politicians say about that?
- What's next?
- Are we still safe from attacks in Germany?
What happened in Berlin?
At around 8 pm on Monday, 19 December, a dark lorry (with Polish registration mark, Scania brand) raced to the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin-Charlottenburg . He came from Kantstrasse / Budapester Strasse, drove up to 80 meters into the Christmas market (over people and stalls) and then drove back to Budapester Strasse, where he stopped.
Are there any victims of the alleged attack?
The police report so far twelve dead (including the passenger in the truck) and 48 injured (20 of them seriously injured). In addition, there are many people who, according to the police, "suffered mental injuries". Who is exactly under the victims can be inquired at the Passenger Information Office under the phone number 030-54023111 .
Who committed the crime?
According to police, there are two people. One of them is the cousin of the Polish forwarding chief (south of Szczecin) Ariel Zurawski. He transports steel racks from Italy, which should be unloaded in Berlin today. Until then, the truck should stop. However, GPS data showed that the truck was started several times on Monday afternoon - without moving. "It's like someone practicing driving him, " said a company employee.
The co-driver of the forwarder was found dead in the driver's cab by the police. How long he was dead at the time of the crime is still unclear. Since Monday 16 clock had the freight forwarder no contact with his cousin.
The second man fled the truck after the alleged attack and was arrested and interrogated by the police as a suspect at the Victory Column in Tiergarten (about two kilometers from the scene). It is a Pakistani (or Afghans) who probably came to Germany in February via the Balkan route and Passau as a refugee, where he lives in a Berlin refugee camp. The fact that this suspect is actually the death driver of the Christmas market, the police can not yet clearly confirm. The identification is difficult because the suspect probably used several names. He apparently appeared before because of "small criminal offenses" in appearance - but not because of terror suspicion.
Photo: gettyimages
Was it even an attack?
The police now know that the truck was intentionally driven into the crowd. She suspects a terrorist attack. The Berlin police tweeted: "All police action on the alleged terrorist attack on Breitscheidplatz run with great pressure and the necessary care." The Federal Criminal Police Office investigates.
That the truck was kidnapped is to be assumed, but has not yet been confirmed by the police.
Today there was a raid on the refugee shelter in Tempelhof (200 police officers, including the SEK). No one was arrested; four men, however, were interviewed.
What do politicians say about that?
Angela Merkel will give an explanation at 11 o'clock about the death drive. Merkel has canceled her planned visit to Rügen, Stralsund and Greifswald.
Minister of the Interior de Maizière ordered national mourning flag as a sign of sympathy.
CSU politician Joachim Herrmann calls for a "rethinking of refugee policy" as soon as the police confirm that it was a terrorist attack.
Today, the interior ministers are advised by the federal and state governments about the security situation. Some federal states, including NRW and Hesse, now want to increase the police presence. Politicians demanded more security on the Christmas markets, the CSU even a "security check for all Christmas markets."
What's next?
Attorney General Peter Frank takes over the investigation of the incident. In total, seven prosecutors are involved in the investigation.
Are we still safe from attacks in Germany?
The police have reported that the "situation is safe", that there is no danger.
Minister of the Interior de Maizière said on ZDF, the risk of attack in Germany is nothing new. "There was a high risk, we always pointed that out." Concrete references to a Christmas market would not have existed.
(WW7)
