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12 Killed in Berlin Attack, Assassin Still at Large

By Nazrin Gadimova December 22, 2016

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Firefighters look at a toppled Christmas tree after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. / Michael Sohn / Associated Press

An incredibly violent attack again hit Europe on Monday as a giant truck smashed into the crowd of people at Christmas market in Berlin. As result, the vehicle, registered in Poland, drove 50-80 meters killing at least 12 people and injuring 49, who were later rushed to the local hospitals.

Police officers found a dead man with gunshot and stab wounds to his body on the passenger seat of the truck soon after the tragedy. Reportedly, this man was the lorry driver murdered by the attacker as the vehicle was hijacked. The local media said that the crime committer fled immediately after the attack.

According to the Germany’s Die Welt, a 23-year-old Pakistani man, who is the main suspect in the attack, was arrested Monday night and released on Tuesday due to the lack of evidence. Reportedly, he arrived in Germany through the Austrian-German border in late 2015 as an asylum seeker.

Soon after his release, police officials acknowledged that those committing the crime may still be at large.

“No-one will rest until the perpetrator or perpetrators have been caught,” Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told German media.

Meanwhile, the world’s most infamous jihadist organization, so-called Islamic State (ISIS) officially claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday. This proved previous statement of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel who said that the government considers the incident a terror attack.

“We must assume at the current time that it was a terrorist attack,” Merkel said as speaking at the local TV. “I know that it would be particularly difficult for all of us to bear if it is confirmed that this deed was carried out by a person who sought protection and asylum in Germany.”

World leaders have strictly condemned the attack at a Christmas market. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said in a statement that “our hearts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of today's horrifying terror attack in Berlin.” Alongside, he criticized attacks committed Monday in Turkey and Switzerland.

Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany - and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2016

French President Francois Hollande said his nation “shares in the mourning of the Germans in the face of this tragedy that has hit all of Europe.” Boris Johnson, Britain's Foreign Secretary, tweeted: 

My thoughts & condolences are w/ the people of #Germany following tonight's terrible tragedy in #Berlin, leaving so many dead & injured.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 19, 2016

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the terror attack in Berlin, expressing its deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

We are deeply saddened by tragic events perpetrated in Berlin city of Germany which caused many deaths and injuries https://t.co/FRAxtLO4FP

— MFA Azerbaijan🇦🇿 (@AzerbaijanMFA) December 20, 2016

A majority-Muslim nation, Azerbaijan, is successful in holding significant anti-terrorism measures to strengthen the country's security. Not so long ago, the security squad in Baku eliminated a terrorist trying to blow himself up nearby a crowded shopping center. Meantime, Baku participates in the anti-terror coalition, led by the U.S. Of note, the Azerbaijani troops contributed to the NATO-led peacekeeping operations held in Afghanistan and Iraq.