12 dead and 50 injured as truck ploughs into Christmas market in Berlin

At least nine people have been killed and 50 have been injured after a lorry ploughed into a packed Christmas market in Berlin.

Police sources said that they believe it was a deliberate attack on tourists and locals.

The driver of the truck was briefly on the run but a suspect has since been detained after being arrested close to the scene.

Berlin Police confirmed that nine people had been killed adding that ‘many others had been injured’.

Jan Hollitzer, a local journalist, said: ‘I heard a big noise and then I moved on the Christmas market and saw much chaos… many injured people. It was really traumatic.’

Brit Emma Rushton, who witnessed the market crash, saw the lorry rush past her at speed and said it could not have been an accident.

She told Sky News she only missed being caught in the chaos because she had climbed up some steps to take a seat.

Ms Rushton said: ‘The stall that we bought our mulled wine from was completely crushed. People were tearing off wooden panels to get out.’

She added: ‘It was not an accident. It was going 40mph, it was in the middle of the market. There was no way that it could have come off the road and it showed no signs of slowing down.’

Police cars and ambulances rushed quickly to the scene as a huge security operation unfolded.

Emma Rushton, a tourist visiting Berlin, told CNN the truck seemed to be traveling at about 40 mph (65 Kmh).

Aerial images show the aftermath of the truck, which smashed into the market outside the landmark Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church this evening.

The incident shares similarities of the attack in France in July when Tunisian-born Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, mowing down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, killing 86 people.

Police shot the driver dead in the Nice attack claimed by Islamic State.

source: Metro