Accident or terror in Berlin ?

[BlackCat]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38373867

An articulated lorry has ploughed into a busy Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, killing nine people and injuring many more, police say.

Police say they suspect it was deliberate. Video shows stalls knocked over and people lying injured.

A suspicious person was arrested nearby, while what police describe as a passenger was found dead, police say.

The market is at Breitscheidplatz, close to the Kurfuerstendamm, the main shopping street in the city's west.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in contact with the interior minister and the mayor of Berlin, her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, tweeted.

"We are in mourning for the dead and hope that the many injured can get help," he added.

German President Joachim Gauck said in a statement that it was an "awful evening for Berlin and for our country".

Terror attack?

According to the DPA news agency, police believe the lorry drove 50-80 metres (54-87 yards) through the market area during the incident, which occurred at 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT).

"We are investigating whether it was a terror attack but do not yet know what was behind it," a police spokesman told AFP news agency.

"One person was detained. The cab of the truck was found empty."

[Proteus_MST]

I guess a terror attack is very likely.
They found a corpse on the passenger seat ... which was the person who was actually hired by the polish transport company to drive the truck.

My guess is that the person who drove the truck into the christmas market murdered the driver and then kidnapped the truck in order to recreate the Nice attack from July 2016

[Proteus_MST]

Addendum:
The police in Berlin now also assumes that the truck was intentionally steered into the crowd.

https://twitter.com/PolizeiBerlin_E?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Also, at the moment it is 12 killed and 48 people seriously injured

[BeBMan]

No accident, terror.

I guess a terror attack is very likely.
They found a corpse on the passenger seat ... which was the person who was actually hired by the polish transport company to drive the truck.

My guess is that the person who drove the truck into the christmas market murdered the driver and then kidnapped the truck in order to recreate the Nice attack from July 2016

Yeah, it's reported now that one person was found shot dead - most probably the original driver from Poland. So his truck probably got hijacked.

[Boris Godunov]

Berlin police released the suspect who had been detained, citing a lack of evidence.

Are the reports of this original driver being found shot true? Lots of fake claims swirl around in the immediate aftermath of events like these.

[Dauphin]

Berlin police released the suspect who had been detained, citing a lack of evidence.

Based on gut (and not really following this story or known *facts*), that would suggest to me they got the wrong guy. I would have expected the guy who did it to gladly confess, assuming it was an IS inspired attack - if he did do it and is not confessing, then it changes possible motivations and connections.

[Kidlicious]

. Our hearts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of today’s horrifying terror attack in Berlin. Innocent civilians were murdered in the streets as they prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday. ISIS and other Islamic terrorists continuously slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad. These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners.

- Donald Trump, President Elect of the United States

[BeBMan]

Berlin police released the suspect who had been detained, citing a lack of evidence.

Are the reports of this original driver being found shot true? Lots of fake claims swirl around in the immediate aftermath of events like these.

The guy who was found shot dead in the lorry has been identified - yes, he's from Poland, the driver who was on a regular tour delivering steel parts brought from Italy.

When he was killed exactly and under what circumstances is unclear, but his identity is clear.


The first suspect has been released meanwhile indeed, because he had an alibi and no traces linking him to the attack were found (blood, dna, etc.). So the guy who drove the lorry into the crowds is on the run still.

[Proteus_MST]

It looks like the culprit may have been a Tunisian who was originally registered in NRW without refugee status (but tolerated ... i.e. exempt from immediate deportation)) but went into hiding after getting prosecuted because of assault (and taking on multiple identities).
It also is known that said tunisian had islamist connections.

Also it seems like the polish driver of the truck was alive up till the terror attack and has been shot with a small calibre firearm

http://www.waz.de/politik/sicherheitskreise-bevorstehende-massnahmen-in-nrw-id209051109.html

[Proteus_MST]

Here a lengthy story (in english) about the suspect:

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/suspect-in-berlin-attack-had-been-under-investigation-for-terror-plot/

[dannubis]

So little can be done about this kind of attacks...

[BeBMan]

Now it's reported they found fingerprints of that Tunisian guy who is hunted right now on that lorry. If that's true they'd at least go into the right direction this time.

[Kidlicious]

The suspect doesn't seem to have been radicalized by his family or culture. He was a criminal who got radicalized in prison.

[Dauphin]

News from Milan. Bang bang. You're dead.

[Proteus_MST]

He won't be missed