Truck Crashes into Crowded Christmas Market in Germany
[Some reports say nine dead and some say 12 dead, so that seems undetermined at this point]
Twelve people have been killed and some 48 more injured after a truck rams into a busy crowd at one of Berlin's Christmas markets.
Police have detained and arrested the driver suspected of deliberately crashing his truck into a crowd at a busy Christmas market in the German capital of Berlin. The second suspect who was in the truck is dead, according to law enforcement officials. The pair took lives of at least nine people and injured 60 in an attack that seems to resemble a horrific terrorist act in Nice, France. Police think that terrorism is the most plausible explanation.
Law enforcement officials say that the violence was "deliberate." There is no road within the vicinity, according to an eyewitness.
The vehicle slammed into crowds Monday evening in Breitscheidplatz. The suspects drove straight into the Christmas tree at the center of the market. The black auto had a Polish autocard, according to a German newspaper. Eyewitnesses also reported hearing a loud bang, but no details so far have been provided as to what caused the pop.
Horrific Video Shows Tragic Scene of Berlin Christmas Market Attack
New footage has surfaced showing the aftermath of an attack that occurred Monday night when a truck crashed into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, Germany. Reports have twelve people killed and at least 48 injured in what is called a terror attack.
Law enforcement officials have called the attack "deliberate" and are reporting that they have the driver in custody while a second suspect was found dead.
Eyewitnesses claim the truck was travelling at a speed of about 45 mph when it plowed into the crowds, and showed no attempts of slowing down.German news outlets are reporting Berlin Mayor Michael Muller saying, "the situation is under control."
[It's sad that Trump's comments are newsworthy, but they are]
President-elect Donald Trump on Monday squarely blamed the “slaughter” of at least nine people at a busy Christmas market in central Berlin on “Islamist terrorists.”
German police have so far only described as a possible terror attack the incident in which a truck plowed through a crowd in scenes reminiscent of July’s deadly truck attack in the French city of Nice.
“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,” Trump said in a statement.
“ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad.”
The Republican, who takes office January 20 and is known for his heated rhetoric, also promised to wipe out “terrorists.”
“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,” he said.
Taking to his format of choice, Twitter, the president-elect later added: “Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany – and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!”
In Ankara, a policeman shot dead Russia’s ambassador to Turkey in a brazen attack during an art exhibition, while a man wounded three others as he burst into a Muslim prayer hall in the Swiss city of Zurich and started shooting.
Trump has espoused pro-Russia views despite a time of high tensions between former Cold War foes Washington and Moscow.
A large truck has stormed through a Christmas market in the German capital of Berlin killing nine people and injuring many others. One person has been arrested.
President-elect Donald Trump condemned the attack in a statement from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida:
“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.”
Die Welt is reporting that the driver of the truck is “said to have come to Germany as a refugee,” although the article does not elaborate on where that information comes from.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Berlin attack, according to an analysis of several online jihadist networks by the anti-ISIS Iraqi Popular Mobilization Force. However, some other analysts say the Iraqi group is premature with that declaration, and a formal claim of responsibility should be awaited from tradition ISIS communications outlets.
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