Berlin 'attack' as it happened: At least nine killed and 50 injured as lorry ploughs into Christmas market
German police have told Berliners to stay at home
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A lorry has driven through a crowded Christmas market in the centre of Berlin, killing several people and leaving more than 50 injured.
Latest updates
- Crash 'being investigated as an act of terrorism'
- Police tell Berliners to stay at home
- Suspected driver of lorry arrested
- Nine confirmed dead and more than 50 injured
- Chancellor Merkel being briefed by interior minister and Berlin mayor
- Facebook initiates Safety Check feature for Berliners
- Video shows destruction caused by lorry
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Video of the aftermath showed people helping the injured on the ground.
Police said on Twitter that the truck rammed into the market outside the capital's popular Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.
Bild newspaper posted a picture of a large Scania truck with its windshield smashed out on the sidewalk alongside the market.
Eyewitnesses on social media reported hearing a big bang as the lorry entered the square.
Video showed destroyed hoardings and stalls.
British tourists have been advised to avoid the area near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by the Foreign Office.
"There is a high threat from terrorism," the office warns.
The Polish delivery company the lorry belonged to lost contact with the driver around 4pm local time, The Guardian reports, suggested the truck may have been hijacked.
The crash is being investigated as an act of terrorism, a German intelligence official told CNN.
Police say there are currently no indications of further danger in Berlin.
Germany's justice minister says federal prosecutors, who handle terrorism cases, are taking over the investigation.
Heiko Maas didn't give further details in a post on Twitter Monday night about the "shocking news" from the capital.
He added: "We are mourning with the relatives" of the victims.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said he is in constant touch with security authorities, but didn't give any indication in a statement whether they believe the incident was an attack.
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