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Berlin truck attack: Tunisian linked to market deaths – report

German police are hunting for the perpetrator of Monday's truck attack at a Berlin market which killed 12. Germany's Spiegel Online reports that investigators are looking for a Tunisian after an ID card was found in

German police are hunting for the perpetrator of Monday’s truck attack at a Berlin market which killed 12.

Germany’s Spiegel Online reports that investigators are looking for a Tunisian after an ID card was found in the truck. Police have not commented.

Officials released the only detained suspect on Tuesday, saying there was no evidence to link him to the attack.

They now say more than one suspect may be on the run, possibly armed, and security has been stepped up.

So-called Islamic State (IS) said one of its militants carried out the attack, but offered no evidence.

The former suspect, a Pakistani national named as Naved B, had denied any connection with the attack.

Police said there were no forensic clues to link him to the vehicle, and had expressed doubt about his involvement soon after his arrest.

Early on Wednesday police said another suspect was arrested overnight but later released, according to broadcaster RBB.

Spiegel reported that police were looking for a Tunisian named Anis A, born in 1992 in the city of Tataouine, after a temporary-stay permit was found under a seat in the cab of the lorry.

The report said the suspect is known to use two aliases, but did not give details. Police have not confirmed the report.

German media also reported that a police operation was under way in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, but there are no details so far.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the original driver of the truck may have fought the attacker as the vehicle was being driven into the market.

Polish citizen Lukasz Urban was found dead on the passenger seat with gunshot and stab wounds.

Investigators quoted by German media say there is evidence that, despite being stabbed, Mr Urban wrestled him for the steering wheel.

One official quoted by Bild newspaper said it appeared from the post-mortem examination that the driver had survived up to the attack and was shot dead when the truck came to a halt. No gun has been recovered.

Ariel Zurawski, the owner of the Polish transport company, said he had been asked to identify Mr Urban from photographs.

“His face was swollen and bloodied. It was really clear that he was fighting for his life,” he told broadcaster TVN.

Company manager Lukasz Wasik described Mr Urban as a “good, quiet and honest person” and said he believed he would have defended the truck “to the end”.

‘Be vigilant’

Police say they are acting on hundreds of tips from the public and are examining DNA traces from the cab of the truck.

“I am fairly confident that we will have a new suspect tomorrow or very soon,” Andre Schulz, head of the BDK police union, told broadcaster ZDF late on Tuesday.

Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller said security had been increased to prevent copycat attacks.

“The right thing is to keep your eyes open – be vigilant in this situation. But you can move around safely in public places,” he said.

IS claimed the attack through its self-styled Amaq news agency, saying it was “in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition countries”.

Prosecutor Peter Frank told reporters that the style of attack and the choice of target suggested Islamic extremism.

But Mr de Maiziere reacted cautiously to the claim, saying “several lines of investigation” were being pursued.

The attack took place at the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market in Berlin, where the lorry was driven through the crowd and several stalls for a distance of 80m (87 yards) .

In addition to the 12 dead, 49 people were injured. At least a dozen remain in critical condition.

BBC News

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6 COMMENTS
  • k.tewolde December 21, 2016

    This type of acts of terror dampens the spirit of the holiest time of the year and reminds us of the ugliest side of humanity,but if those in power and influence continue to make unfair strategic and tactical mistakes and we continue to witness these Armageddon images coming from Aleppo,Yemen,South Sudan,the recluse,opaque state of Eritrea………….the cataclysmic global exodus of humanity looking for safe haven, something is bound to happen,God save the planet which you gave us as a gift and put there everything in abundance and that we made increasingly smaller and smaller for us to live in peace.May be it is time to take what You gave generously?

    • Degoli December 21, 2016

      … and also the christian enslaved Eritreans still sufferinng in the Muslim Arab world, the massacre of the God loving Christian Coptic in Egypt who were killed last week in their own churches also comes to mind.

  • teigstei December 21, 2016

    nay eritrea zeinna deikumm seinkumm

    • k.tewolde December 21, 2016

      Nothing news worthy comes out of Eritrea where the abused unconditionally succumbed to the abuser and everything is ‘peaceful’.That is why teigesti.

  • Degoli December 21, 2016

    The news said: “Berlin truck attack: Tunisian linked to market deaths – report …”

    Oh! another Jehadi Arab Muslim dreaming the Wahabi chief’s reward of “72 virgins” in hell after killing innocent people?
    Did these people have a sensible religion, as in a “religion of peace”?

  • Degoli December 21, 2016

    Here is another scary news, the Arabs fight among each other is showing the Egypt Saudi Arabia stink in Ethiopia:
    Egypt-Gulf relations tested by Saudi visit to Ethiopia dam

    December 20, 2016 (AFP)

    A Saudi visit to Ethiopia and a tweet falsely attributed to a Qatari official have harmed relations between Cairo and Gulf monarchies

    Egyptian media lashed out at Saudi Arabia over a high-level Saudi delegation visit to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during a short trip to Ethiopia on Friday. Experts said the decision to visit the GERD was an act of revenge against Egypt that could deepen tensions between the two countries.

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