German police believe truck crash at Christmas market in Berlin is a terror attack

[oberliner]

A witness told the Guardian that the truck ploughed into the market at speed. “It was not an accident. The truck was going 40mph. It was in the middle of a square, there are main roads either side, [where it could have come from]. But it showed no sign of slowing down,” said Emma Rushton, a British tourist.

She said it crashed into a stall only a few feet from where she and her friend were standing. “We heard a massive bang. About eight to 10 feet in front of us was where the lorry ploughed through. It ploughed through the stall where we bought our mulled wine.

“It ploughed through people and the wooden huts, it tore the lights down. Everything went dark, it was black and there was screaming. It was awful,” she said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/19/berlin-truck-crashes-into-christmas-market

[Coventina]

1. So does the White House:

White House condemns 'what appears to have been a terrorist attack'

A statement from the White House condemns “what appears to have been a terrorist attack” in Berlin, and noting that the US government has been in touch with German officials and offers assistance as required.

The statement by National Security Council spokesperson Ned Price reads in full:

The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Germany. We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies.

[Coventina]

2. Further update from the Guardian:

Berlin police tweeted that they have blocked a nearby street to the Breitscheidplatz incident to “check a suspicious item.”

The street it is referring to, Rankestrasse, runs directly to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which is where the truck ran into the Christmas market, leaving at least nine dead.

[Coventina]

9. Report from eyewitness:

Mike Fox, a British tourist has just told N24 television channel that he had gone to the market and was drinking a glühwein (mulled wine) with his girlfriend when the lorry sped towards them. He said he saw nothing on the market place which would have prevented it from plowing into the market.

[Coventina]

10. Condolences from France:

French president François Hollande tweeted his condolences to Germany:

“I express my solidarity and compassion to Chancellor Merkel, to the German people and to the families of the victims of Berlin,” he wrote.

[Coventina]

12. Guardian reporting that there are many videos of the aftermath:

There’s a number of videos that emerged showing the immediate aftermath of the truck ramming into the crowd at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market.

One ten minute video, which we’re choosing not to link to as it shows possibly deceased victims, shows bodies lying on the ground and wreckage of broken market stalls. People are tending to the wounded, with scattered Christmas decorations and lights around them. The person filming the video walks through the market, showing the path of wreckage before showing the damaged truck, surrounded by police.

This video shows the damaged 18-wheeler truck itself, with a smashed windscreen and a large trailer behind it. The passenger in the truck (it is unknown what role, if any, they had in the incident) died during the crash. Ambulances and police surround the area.

[oberliner]

3. Seems like Nice all over again

Very depressing.

[Coventina]

4. Agreed. There were travel warnings in November that there were credible threats on Christmas

Markets.

Very soft targets, and very symbolic at the same time.

[oberliner]

5. Hopefully we will be able to express our sorrow and anger about this

Without people saying "Why do you care about Berlin and not about Aleppo?" and whatnot.

[Coventina]

6. As if we can't care about both.....

[Coventina]

7. Truck had a load of steel, making it more deadly:

The truck, manufactured by Scania, is believed to have been loaded with steel when it left Italy for Berlin, which according to transport experts would have made it even more deadly.

[oberliner]

8. Also appears there was a dead Polish man in the passenger seat

Suggesting the truck was hijacked and the Polish driver was killed.

[Coventina]

11. Guardian reports that German police have confirmed the load of steel:

The Berlin police just confirmed that there were steel beams on the “load plattform,” which we believe is a slightly garbled English translation for the truck’s trailer.

[Coventina]

13. Guardian UPDATE and RECAP:

What we know so far


Claire Phipps

Nine people have died and many more are injured after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market at Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz on Monday evening.
A suspect believed to have been the driver has been arrested.
Police have not confirmed a motive for the deadly incident, but a statement from the White House said it “appears to have been a terrorist attack”.
The lorry, which was loaded with steel beams, was Polish-owned and was reportedly on its return journey to Poland from Italy. Company owner Ariel Zurawski said the driver was his cousin and had been due to stop in Berlin for a break. He said he had not heard from the driver since around noon on Monday.
One person inside the truck is confirmed to have died.
The US state department issued a warning in November for travellers in Europe of a heightened risk of terror attacks at Christmas-related events, including markets, by Isis, al-Qaida and affiliates.

[Coventina]

14. Berlin police now saying truck was stolen in POLAND!

Police: truck 'stolen in Poland'

Berlin police have said they suspect the truck was stolen from a construction site in Poland. Investigations into what happened to the truck – and its driver – are ongoing.

They say a suspicious item that was earlier being investigated has been cleared as a sleeping bag,

[Coventina]

15. All rescue work at the site is now finished: 45 wounded, death toll still at nine.

Police: 45 wounded taken to hospitals

Rescue work at the site has concluded. The official death toll still stands at nine.

Police say 45 people have been taken to Berlin hospitals for treatment.

[oberliner]

16. Thank you for providing these updates

What is the best source in English for more information?

[Coventina]

17. I'm watching the live updates on the Guardian's website.

They have reporters on site and they are left-leaning.

[Coventina]

18. *sigh* and now Trump's statement.....

Trump statement blames 'Islamist terrorists'

US president-elect Donald Trump has issued a statement on the events in Berlin, which he calls a “horrifying terror attack”:

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 Islamist terrorists continually 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.

German police have not yet confirmed whether the crash was deliberate, or attributed responsibility, but a White House statement earlier said it “appears to have been a terrorist attack”.

[Kittycow]

21. He's just gonna eradicate all the innocents for miles and miles too.

[Coventina]

19. Statement from Polish Trucking Co:

The Polish company that owns the truck has said its driver is missing. Its transport manager, Lukasz Wasik, told AFP news agency that the driver is 37 years old and had been transporting Thyssen steel products from Italy to Berlin.

The company where he was supposed to unload the products in Berlin was not able to receive them and told him to return on Tuesday morning. They told him to wait in Berlin somewhere.

We lost contact with him around 3pm local time [2pm GMT]. We don’t know what happened – whether he was taken hostage, killed. We know nothing. We’re very worried about him.

What a tragedy.

This might be my final update of the evening, as I am headed out.
Take care everyone.

Peace.

[oberliner]

20. Awful

And I am trying to get news about it here in the US and the cable news networks are all talking about Trump.