Germany: Truck Runs Into Berlin Christmas Market, Killing 12 & Almost 50 Injured

Germany: Truck Runs Into Berlin Christmas Market, Killing 12 & Almost 50 Injured

BERLIN - German police on Tuesday described the slamming of a truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 and wounding dozens, as a “suspected act of terrorism,” as authorities carried out early morning counter terrorism raids.

Photo Source: NBC News

The incident had echoes of the deadly truck assault in the French city of Nice in July that killed 86 people and was claimed by the Islamic State.

Initially Germany officials hesitated to use the word “attack.” But early Tuesday police issued two tweets, one describing it as a suspected act of terror and the other declaring that “the truck was deliberately steered into the crowd” at the market.

The market is at Breitscheidplatz, close to the Kurfuerstendamm, the main shopping street in the city's west.

Almost 50 people are in hospital and at least four have suffered serious injuries.

Facebook set up a "Safety Check" page for people in Berlin to let others know they are safe.

In Berlin, the festive scene turned into panic shortly after 8 p.m. Monday as the truck veered onto the sidewalk and crashed between market stalls, running 50 to 80 feet before stopping, according to witnesses. Some victims were pinned under its wheels while others were struck and tossed onto the pavement.

According to police spokeswoman Valeska Jakubowski, 12 people were killed and 48 were being treated at hospitals.

After the incident, the scene remained a horrific tableau of crushed wood, broken glass and blood. Lying near the truck was a fallen Christmas tree, its star toppled.

On the scene, first responders were carrying people away on stretchers as police with automatic weapons cordoned off the area.

“It’s terrible, just terrible,” said Berlin Mayor Michael ­Müller. He said it was up to authorities to establish the facts, adding, “We always hoped that we wouldn’t have this kind of situation in Berlin.”