At least 12 people were killed and 48 others injured when a truck driven by a Pakistani youth ploughed into a crowded Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, an attack German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday said was linked to terror and likely committed by an asylum seeker.
The truck, bearing a Polish number plate and laden with steel girds, rammed into the traditional Christmas market in front of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, one of the main landmarks of the city, shortly after 8 pm (local time) as hundreds of people were milling around the shops and stands.
The vehicle rolled about 50 to 80 metres into the market area at the major public square Breitscheidplatz popular with tourists, hitting a number of visitors and demolishing several shops.
Two persons were inside the driver's cabin at time of the incident, police said, adding that while the driver jumped out of the vehicle after it came to a halt and fled from the scene, a body of a Polish national was found inside the truck.
The driver, who many German media called a Pakistani national, was later apprehended by police.
The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Naved B from Pakistan by BILD newspaper, that cited the information to investigator circles. The newspaper said he was reportedly registered as a refugee in Germany about a year ago - in February, 2016.
Merkel said if it was confirmed that the man at the wheel had been part of the refugee influx to the country, this would be "particularly sickening in relation to the many, many Germans who are involved every day in helping refugees". "I know it will be especially hard for us to take if it is confirmed that the person who committed this attack sought protection and asylum in Germany," said Merkel, who was later set to visit the scene.
One survivor, Australian Trisha O'Neill, recalled the horror of "this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people", with "blood and bodies everywhere".
"It wasn't an accident," said another visitor, Briton Emma Rushton, who was enjoying a glass of mulled wine when the festive scene was shattered by a loud crash and screams.
"We heard a really loud bang and saw some of the Christmas lights to our left starting to be pulled down," she told Sky news.
"Then we saw the articulated vehicle going through people and through the stalls and just pulling everything down and then everything went dark."
Police detained the man believed to have deliberately mowed the truck, which was loaded with steel beams, for 80 metres (yards) into the popular tourist spot near the capital's Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
The suspect was an asylum seeker who arrived in Germany in February, according to unnamed security sources cited by DPA news agency.
Die Welt daily named him as Navid B., born on January 1, 1993 in the Pakistani city of Turbat although other reports said he may be an Afghan.
Local newspapers reported that after the truck driver left the cabin, a man followed him on foot and used his mobile phone to stay in touch with police, who arrested him about two kilometres away near Berlin's Victory Column.
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PAKISTANI SUSPECTED,
DENIES INVOLVEMENT
* The suspect believed to be the driver has denied involvement in the attack
* The suspect is Pakistani and had arrived in Germany on December 31, 2015
* Bloodshed so far not claimed by the Islamic State organisation or any other group
* Xmas markets in Berlin shut for a day out of respect for victims and their relatives
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A BLOODY PICTURE
WHAT HAPPENED
* Around 8pm (1900 GMT) a lorry drove for up to 80 metres (yards) into a busy Christmas market frequented by locals and tourists, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims
THE SUSPECT
A suspect was arrested some two kilometres (one mile) from the scene, police said. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the detained man was likely to have been behind the events
THE LORRY
The Polish owner of the lorry confirmed late Monday that his driver was missing, while German officials said Tuesday that a Polish man found dead after the carnage was "shot" dead
