Police in Berlin have confirmed that the death toll of this morning’s truck crash has increased to 12 people, and that 48 people have been injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
A sad certainty: Today 12 people died at #Breitscheidplatz, 48 partially seriously injured are cared for by hospitals.
— PolizeiBerlinEinsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 20, 2016
Jaochim Gauck, the German federal president, issued a statement about the crash. “In my thoughts I am with the victims, with their families and with all those who fear for the safety of their friends and relatives,” he said. “I thank the emergency services and the security forces for their hard work.”
Police have confirmed that a suspect was arrested around 100m from the crash site, and that an additional passenger died during the crash. This translated statement comes via The Guardian:
We’ve had a description of the driver, who was on the run at first. Because of this description, one suspect could be arrested. We are now investigating whether the arrested person is actually the driver of the truck. The suspect was arrested nearby, a few hundred metres away from the scene of the attack.
Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, has urged caution in how the incident is reported until the full details are known – indicating that preemptively calling it an ‘attack’ could have a “psychological effect” on the country.
I don’t want to use the word ‘attack’ yet at the moment, although a lot speaks for it. There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation.
It’s best to wait for the investigation before apportioning specific blame. We’ll keep you updated.
Source: The Guardian.
Photo: Getty Images.
