Truck plows into crowd at Berlin Christmas market, 9 dead, dozens injured

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Police and emergency workers stand next to a crashed truck at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016.   REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Police and emergency workers stand next to a crashed truck at the site of an accident at a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz square near the fashionable Kurfuerstendamm avenue in the west of Berlin, Germany, December 19, 2016. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
A truck plowed into a crowded Christmas market in the German capital Berlin on Monday evening, killing nine people and injuring up to 50 others, police said.

German media, citing police at the scene, said first indications pointed to an attack on the market, situated at the foot of the ruined Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, which was kept as a bombed-out ruin after World War Two.

The incident evoked memories of an attack in France in July when Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. The attack was claimed by Islamic State.

The truck careered into the Berlin market at what would have been one of the most crowded times for the Christmas market, when adults and children would be gathering in the traditional cluster of wooden huts that sell food and Christmas goods.

Berlin police said nine people were killed

“I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos…many injured people,” Jan Hollitzer, deputy editor in chief of Berliner Morgenpost, told CNN.

“It was really traumatic.”

Police cars and ambulances converged quickly on the scene as a huge security operation unfolded. The fate of the driver of the truck was not immediately clear, but Bild newspaper said he was on the run.

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told CNN the truck seemed to be traveling at about 40 mph (65 Kmh).

Asked how many were injured, she said that as she walked back to her hotel, she saw at least 10.

Julian Reichelt, editor in chief of Bild Berlin, said that there was currently a massive security operation under way.

“The scene certainly looks like a reminder of what we have seen in Nice,” Reichelt said,

REUTERS

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19 responses to “Truck plows into crowd at Berlin Christmas market, 9 dead, dozens injured”

  1. No professional truck drivers driving a 40 tons truck so unprofessionally, it must be Muslims who murdered Christians at the Christmas market.

    The owner of the of the deadly truck, expresses himself on Polish television.

    Ariel Zurawski, has expressed himself on the TVN24’s private TV.
    The truck belongs to the entrepreneur, but he assures that his driver, the carnage has not prepared.

    “I put my hand in the fire for him. This is my cousin, “he said.
    He was an experienced driver, 15 years he had worked in the profession.
    Until about 15:16 he had still known where the truck was, for he had spoken to the driver’s wife.
    By 16 he had not reached him anymore. At last he had spoken to him at noon. It has been loaded with steel structures weighing 25 tons.
    Someone must have stolen the truck.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Assume that was 15th, 16th of the month …
      Sorry for the real owner to be so badly screwed, in what is a relatively normal business rental agreement.
      But then, the ‘goals’ of the warped minds is to disrupt ALL which is normal and to stop any business, as well as making body-counts out of all innocent people used as pawns.
      Especially in ‘fav-target’ countries.
      ANYONE’S holidays and feast-days as well as every-day shopping activities, has been and will continue to be opportunities for the anarchists to do their hateful performances. Cheap ‘best-press’, and they have even encouraged a few methods in their ‘adverts’.

      The BEST thing to be done, after attempting to arrange for some viable security measures, is to NOT allow them to succeed in stopping us all from actually enjoying to live as we do, and wish to. The ‘security measures’ have already fouled up enough of those freedoms.
      The Folks of Mid-East countries have learned … and still go shopping, or gather in their celebrations.
      For the sake of ‘the societies’, we learn to accept that there will be ‘collateral’ damages … even in skating on a frozen pond … or sleeping through bad storms. It seems this becomes another every-day risk to endure. Supporting the actual victims of any of it is the best way to state that ‘We Care’.
      Losing that ‘freedom’ to say it, and to give the psychological aid in those small human ways, which factually can never replace loved ones, MUST be fought against allowing to be driven out of the society, by all the ones who only see ‘control’ of ‘all’ by a ‘one-mind-monster’, as being any actual answer.
      ‘Security’ comes with logical applications of a few methods … Peace and Love do not follow in a society locked behind doors afraid to talk to itself.

      1. I do not know who you are trying to fool with your meaningless comments about “Assume that was 15th, 16th of the month …”.

        There is no formula that can stop the assassins to execute terrorist acts on our soil.
        We live in an open society, that is vulnerable because it is open, not a police state – the open society is fully exploited by the terrorists that we gave a schalter as well as asylum.

        “Peace and Love do not follow in a society locked behind doors afraid to talk to itself.”, what society you refer to – our society isn’t locked behind doors and we are not afraid, just resolute to extinguish the trespasser and enjoy our Christmas traditions.

        BTW, the suspect Tunisian (Anis A.) in the Berlin attack was already under investigation for terror plot.
        Anis A. was living in NRW before traveling to Berlin in February. It was confirmed that the man applied for the asylum and was rejected in June 2016.

        However, the authorities ran into bureaucratic hurdles while trying to repatriate him.
        “It was not possible to deport this man because he had no valid ID papers on him,”

        Now its time for me to enjoy my Glühwein.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Clarifying that you were talking about recent dates to those who’s English is not perfect.
          Not, say, minutes on a clock …. being helpful … and Yeah, I was NOT talking about your societey – just advising against becoming like some others.
          I won’t reply to you in future if you think someone is always attacking you or your society, which I actually enjoyed when I was there, by making a comment with embedded concepts which other countries put in place. Merry Christmas.

          1. 5thDrawer Avatar

            Will add that, it’s MOST unfortunate that ‘investigations’ – even if able to be completed within better time-frames – as our police forces are attempting to do with accuracy – are so bolloxed by ‘the rules of free and equal’ laws, which require many more than just the police departments to achieve the goals of ‘security’.
            And yet, of course, we never enjoyed a ‘police state’ mentality being used, even when it was plainly needed for a short ’emergency subject’ to be taken care of, which gives back ‘good’ for all the people in their own culture by it’s useage.
            If, for example, the police had to stand around just looking at a building collapsed by an earthquake, before some guy with a ‘license’ to move bricks showed up with ‘directives’ signed by an officious dipstick, they might as well be resting at home making Tea until that moment. Yet we’d ‘critique’ that too.
            The problem of doing the ‘right thing’ at the right time has arisen greatly DUE TO the ‘suspicions & theorizing’ about why something was even done correctly, because the ‘reportage’ of it has been degraded to the extents of most not being able to believe anything having some truth in it, since ‘political motives’ of the ones we elect are also ‘reported’ in such secret and mangled ways, that knowing what to trust about the later ‘official investigation’ of an event has gotten to the point of not even believing one’s own eyes.
            (and even honest reporters are confounded by this ‘world-problem’ visited on us – by those who now convolute the true necessity of the individual ‘DUTY’, to learn and respect the REAL boundaries of having ‘free speech’ in a ‘democratic’ society.)

            Those of us wanting freedoms in living our lives, and some self-direction in those lives with a ‘vote’ on the policies of our country/town/street, ARE wondering ‘WHAT NOW?”
            DELAY – combined with general human impatience for what we ‘want’ – can be either a ‘tool’ used against the society, or the absolute necessity of ‘getting it right’.
            And the individual must make the decision about which is being utilized. Only honesty within the ‘self’ allows the patience needed to obtain the history.
            And, honestly, I can understand that many people rather enjoy living in the ‘constantly policed environments’ being created. No need to really think much about a ‘why’ or ‘who’, or even a ‘why not’. Follow ‘their’ rules. Just scrabble along on the daily fare, and/or ignore the ‘reports’ altogether … maintaining a good democracy is SO difficult.
            Even following the original concept of St. Nicholas and walking his warmed path of leadership to deliver some needed food can be ignored – the ‘State’ will handle it.
            Why, one could even open a Christmas present before the ‘right moment’ of the previously-agreed-upon ‘feelings’ within the family … as long as the Elf named Santa had dropped one wrapped up and waiting under the bright tree – assuming you were ‘being good’ in your present and directed ‘state of mind’. 😉

  2. Hopefully, and unlike the French, German officials will keep the video footage …

    A report in 21st of July edition of Le Figaro newspaper states that France’s anti-terrorist executive ( sous-direction anti-terroriste- SDAT) has ordered Nice’s urban surveillance authorities to destroy all CCTV footage of the Nice Attacks on Bastille Day that rocked the city on the 14th of July 2016.

    Or have a better bogus reason …

    The explanation given by the French Ministry of Justice is that they don’t want ‘uncontrolled’ and ‘non-authorised (non maîtrisée) diffusion of the images of the terrorist attacks.

    http://www.gearoidocolmain.org/french-government-orders-destruction-cctv-videos-nice-attacks/

  3. Germany screwed themselves by allowing uncultured muslim welfare cases through the door. There is a “final solution” for the muslim problem. Just sayin’.
    At a certain point Europeans will have to face the muslim problem head on, and assimilated muslims will have to also stand up against THEIR own internal religious problem. Islam is certainly the worlds most despised religion by anyone with half a brain.

    1. Both the ‘uncultured muslim welfare cases’ and Wahhabism (what you refer to as ‘Islam’) are supported by those running Europe and the West. They knew that removing Saddam and Gaddafi would result in chaos – they did it anyway because chaos is what they wanted. The continuous false-flags in Europe are to legitimize the West’s meddling in the Middle East. Do you really believe the USA and its ‘allies’ cannot get rid of Wahhabi zealots? Like they could not get rid of Castro 90 miles south of the USA? (laughing)

    2. Germany didn’t screwed themselves, it was the Merkel asylpolitik.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9659a01ccf8666b3ab041001c9da17d5371a27c12a33fffb1a6a8757d9ea9aac.jpg
      Before Erdoğan emerged, the Turks felt themselves as Germans, today it is a new problem with the double nationality of the turks…..

      1. “Deutschland schafft sich ab” (c).

        1. Niemals!

  4. I wonder if Germany will get rid of the video footage like France did (http://bit.ly/2i2UOwG) or if Richard Gutjahr was ready to ‘document’ the event like he did in Munich and Nice.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Looks like a ‘site’ to donate a bit to … many are seeking the truth of stories these days …

      1. Had to go back to see what you were talking about. Yes, I now see the donation button. Truth should must be free but content stood (as in the past) since it looks like there was an update …

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/22/nice-officials-reject-request-to-delete-truck-attack-surveillance-footage

        Now, Richard Gutjahr … ready to document with a professional camera at two recent ‘terror’ attacks. The right time ‘right place strike’ some more than others I guess.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Driving a truck through a crowd engaged in finding ways to express the ‘good spirits’ of the ‘festive event’ (and no matter which drink adds to any festivity about the whole thing) – and considering the last several years of ‘discussions’ about being willing to give aid to those hoping for at least better ‘Human Spirit’ – makes me only wonder why a few Z-Walls were not imported to surround the beautifully-decorated venue, even if that’s a police-state-concept working against the feelings the people ARE trying to find and to keep in their society again.
          I think I could ‘target’ a few with a camera easily enough, considering the seasonal desires to go to something ‘joyful’ for a day, IF I had the patience to sit there waiting for the ‘right moment’. We’ve all seen and heard enough of what favourite targets the markets and malls and restaurants and parades and foot-races CAN be for those pea-brains trying to wipe out any joy in a humanity. Documenters have an easier job than ‘Investigative Reporters’ – especially if one wants to be doing it on humans, rather than subjects in ‘Nature’.
          The ‘audience’ will determine the ‘appreciations’ – I suppose.
          And the ‘New-Tech’ has provided great new tools … just set a camera on the ‘tree-house’ or ‘duck-blind’ to watch some baited aggressive animals as they work … no need to freeze or go without sleep to ‘document’ any more. 😉

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          ‘Police presence’ was evident. Hindsight could be valuable, but can’t change the event.
          A ‘biggest’ transport truck loaded with 25 tons of steel was only stopped by the driver being not a competent driver, or a lucky fluke of a wheel-turn when he died. 🙁

          And DAMN, but Nice looks SO warm and inviting … sigh ….

  5. anno dazumal Avatar
    anno dazumal

    World leaders pledge solidarity with Berlin after Christmas market tragedy.

    German Federal Interior Minister:
    We won’t rest until this is fully investigated
    https://twitter.com/marieelise94/status/810977685686128640/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
    People around the world offered their condolences on social media, tweeting “#PrayforBerlin” and “Ich bin ein Berliner” after the famous speech that former US President John F. Kennedy gave in the German capital.

    1. Thanks OhYea/Matrix/O’Matrix.

  6. MekensehParty Avatar
    MekensehParty

    Isis inspired – Russian executed!!!
    Not looking into this possibility is naïve
    Merkel loosing the coming elections because of this attack removes the last powerful leader that’s standing up to Putin.
    Germany beware!!!!

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