Berlin Breitscheidplatz: Lorry kills nine at Christmas market

[Stevencc]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38373867

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

Police now say they suspect it was a deliberate attack. Video footage from the scene shows stalls knocked over and people lying injured on the ground.

The driver is believed to be under arrest while the co-driver died.

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

It is situated at the foot of the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after World War Two.

As emergency vehicles filled the area, Berlin police appealed to the public to avoid the area and stay at home.

Facebook has set up a "Safety Check" page for people affected to let their loved ones know they are safe.

A British eyewitness, Mike Fox, told The Associated Press at the scene that the large lorry had missed him by only about 3m as it drove into the market, tearing through tables and wooden stands.

"It was definitely deliberate," said the tourist, visiting from Birmingham.

He said he had helped people who appeared to have broken limbs, and that others were trapped under Christmas stands.

Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN: "I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos... many injured people. It was really traumatic."

The Berliner Zeitung reports that police have set up a meeting point for relatives at the scene.

A photographer for the DPA news agency said that armed police were at an entrance to the nearby zoo.

The incident evoked memories of the lorry attack on Bastille Day crowds in the French city of Nice on 14 July, when 86 people were killed. That attack was claimed by so-called Islamic State.

 

[Blitzballer]

Nothing confirmed yet but I bet this in an attack rather than a accident

 

[Martino Quackavelli]

Nothing confirmed yet but I bet this in an attack rather than a accident

*an

 

[Blitzballer]

Holy shit it's the spelling police

 

[Martino Quackavelli]

Holy shit it's the spelling police

*grammar

 

[Max]

I went to Berlin a couple of years ago and stayed opposite Breitsheidplatz. From memory - and indeed re-looking at it on Google Maps - it's a small (and thus strange), unassuming target for this sort of attack. In a popular area, but the pedestrianised bit itself is not a big place, and you wouldn't expect it to be a target. I suppose that might be the point.

Guardian also reporting the possibility the truck was hijacked - nothing confirmed, but reports someone inside the truck was found dead, and they also have a suspect in custody, which would fit that theory. Early days though, obviously.

 

[Martino Quackavelli]

I wonder what's the plan for new year's eve? Huge crowds in hundreds of cities around Europe, drunk people not paying attention, cameras and media attention etc. It's a security nightmare.

I went to Berlin a couple of years ago and stayed opposite Breitsheidplatz. From memory - and indeed re-looking at it on Google Maps - it's a small (and thus strange), unassuming target for this sort of attack. In a popular area, but the pedestrianised but itself is not a big place, and you wouldn't expect it to be a target. I suppose that might be the point.

*bit

 

[Max]

I wonder what's the plan for new year's eve? Huge crowds in hundreds of cities around Europe, drunk people not paying attention, cameras and media attention etc. It's a security nightmare.

*bit

Thanks Martino, corrected. As an editor myself, I feel the error particularly keenly. You are, and have always been, my hero.

Everyone who complains about grammar (and indeed spelling, if you can believe it) police, is undoubtedly quite bitter.

 

[G-Dragon]

Who needs proper checks when all the refugees are saints..oh wait!

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I wonder what's the plan for new year's eve? Huge crowds in hundreds of cities around Europe, drunk people not paying attention, cameras and media attention etc. It's a security nightmare.

I don't know if that's the security services doing a better job or the Islamists being deliberately unpredictable, but we very rarely get attacks when we expect to. Nothing at the Euros for example.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

German SEK special police are reportedly storming a hanger at Tempelhof Airport used as a refugee shelter.

 

[johnnytodd]

This is what you get when anyone can walk into your country.

 

[mente captus]

on my way home. cologne main station evacuated

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

on my way home. cologne main station evacuated

That was really mean of them.

 

[MJA]

I don't know if that's the security services doing a better job or the Islamists being deliberately unpredictable, but we very rarely get attacks when we expect to. Nothing at the Euros for example.

Unless done in numbers, targeting a large event is always going to be more difficult due to the fact that extra security/police are always deployed. Targeting minor event might not generate the casualty numbers these nutters want, but it always generates headlines and if done enough times the number of victims would rise and rise so ultimately they get what they want just stretched out over more atrocities.

 

[MJA]

The person arrested on suspicion of being the driver has been released due to lack of evidence. If German police start to arrest anyone who they think looks like a terrorist, they could have other problems to be dealing with

 

[Stevencc]

IS have claimed responsibility.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38385961

 

[Martino Quackavelli]

IS would probably claim responsibility for your shitty posts if they was aware of them. They claim responsibility for every crime against humanity that occurs in the world, makes em seem bigger and more co-ordinated than they are

 

[Techno Natch]

I'm surprised you're believing the media line on this one JT......

I do question the effectiveness of these attacks long term in terms of creating the reaction that IS want.(Although this seems to be more IS inspired rather than organised by them) Certainly I've seen hardly any talk of it on social media or even this thread compared to Paris or Brussels, so I wonder if people are gaining a resilience to these types of attacks. Not that social media and a football forum are necessarily barometers for measuring this sort of thing of course. Also driving a lorry into a crowd possibly doesn't have the same impact mentally as the idea of people running around with guns and grenades.

Still obviously tragic but it's very hard to see how we stop seemingly lone wolf attacks like this

 

[johnnytodd]

I'm surprised you're believing the media line on this one JT......

I do question the effectiveness of these attacks long term in terms of creating the reaction that IS want.(Although this seems to be more IS inspired rather than organised by them) Certainly I've seen hardly any talk of it on social media or even this thread compared to Paris or Brussels, so I wonder if people are gaining a resilience to these types of attacks. Not that social media and a football forum are necessarily barometers for measuring this sort of thing of course. Also driving a lorry into a crowd possibly doesn't have the same impact mentally as the idea of people running around with guns and grenades.

Still obviously tragic but it's very hard to see how we stop seemingly lone wolf attacks like this

The Israeli Secret Intelligence Service have claimed responsibility that is enough for me.

seek the truth !

 

[Abertawe]

Why do these guys always conveniently carry ID papers? And if there were papers in the lorry then when they hell did they arrest that poor Pakistani bloke.

 

[johnnytodd]

Why do these guys always conveniently carry ID papers? And if there were papers in the lorry then when they hell did they arrest that poor Pakistani bloke.

Exactly Aber your coming around to my thinking, have a cookie.

 

[Red]

Exactly Aber your coming around to my thinking, have a cookie.

*you're.

Sorry, just trying to maintain some consistency on the spelling and grammar. I know that was an oversight on your part J as I know you can spell and punctuate. I sometimes do this too - type your instead of you're, but fortunately review and spot the error.

To everyone - Please try to spell and use grammar correctly. It doesn't look good to guests browsing the forums who will not join due to the fact we look like fucking simpletons who can't spell or use correct grammar.

That is all, thank you.

For clarity, this is a tongue -in-cheek post, please do not be offended, I wouldn't of been.

 

[johnnytodd]

*you're.

Sorry, just trying to maintain some consistency on the spelling and grammar. I know that was an oversight on your part J as I know you can spell and punctuate. I sometimes do this too - type your instead of you're, but fortunately review and spot the error.

To everyone - Please try to spell and use grammar correctly. It doesn't look good to guests browsing the forums who will not join due to the fact we look like fucking simpletons who can't spell or use correct grammar.

That is all, thank you.

For clarity, this is a tongue -in-cheek post, please do not be offended, I wouldn't of been.

You have far tooo much time on yer hands.

 

[Red]

You have far tooo much time on yer hands.

Slow and quiet day at work.

 

[slaphead]

Reuters reporting a police source that confirms the man suspected of the Berlin attack has been shot dead in Milan.

 

[.V.]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/truth-berlin-christmas-market-terror-9500721

 

[Aber gas]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/truth-berlin-christmas-market-terror-9500721

State of the comments.

 

[Stevencc]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38415287

The suspect has been shot dead by police in Milan.

The Berlin market attack suspect, Anis Amri, has been shot dead by police in Milan, Italy's interior minister says.

The man, who opened fire on police who asked him for ID during a routine patrol in the Sesto San Giovanni area in the early hours of Friday, was "without a shadow of a doubt" Anis Amri, Marco Minniti said.

One police officer was injured in the shootout but his life is not in danger.

Didn't see Slaphead's post, suppose this is confirmation.

 

[SALTIRE]

Bloody hell my sis and brother in law are in Milan just now.