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Berlin attack as it happened: Isis claims Christmas market massacre as attacker still at large

Suspect released because of insufficient evidence linking him to attack

Samuel Osborne,Peter Walker
Tuesday 20 December 2016 08:36 GMT
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Video shows immediate aftermath of Berlin lorry attack

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Police in Germany say they have detained a migrant in relation to the suspected Berlin Christmas market "terror attack" in which at least 12 people died and 48 were injured.

Officers are treating the incident, in which a truck ploughed into a crowd at the Breitscheidplatz market outside the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church, as an act deliberately intended to cause harm.

The alleged man behind the tragedy has since been identified as Naved B, according to Welt.de, a 23-year-old Pakistani refugee who was allegedly living in the capital's largest migrant camp at a converted airport hangar.

The suspect however has denied responsibility, according to security officials, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we must assume it was terrorism".

Special forces police have since stormed the same Flughen Tempelhof spot as part of their operation - according to German magazine Focus.

"Our investigators assume that the truck was deliberately steered into the crowd at the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz," police said on Twitter.

"All police measures related to the suspected terrorist attack... are progressing at full steam and with the necessary diligence."

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