If that is confirmed, it could further worsen sentiment towards migrants in Germany, where more than a million people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere have arrived this year and last.
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Under German law, prosecutors have until the end of the calendar day following an arrest to seek a formal arrest warrant keeping a suspect in custody.
Holger Munch, the head of Germany’s Federal police force investigating the attack added to the confusion by admitting: “We don’t know whether there was only one perpetrator…that is why we are on high alarm”, he said. A USA security source told the paper there was evidence United Kingdom suspects were being “directed by an IS external operations group based out of Aleppo in Syria”. Heightened vigilance is also needed right now’.
The authorities say people should not give in to terrorism by changing their plans – and should still attend seasonal events to celebrate Christmas.
United States President Barack Obama spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to offer his condolences and the help of the USA after the attack.
A Pakistani asylum seeker was arrested a short time afterwards but police released him for lack of evidence, and the so-called Islamic State group claimed one of its “soldiers” carried out the killings. No gun was recovered.
Of the 12 victims of the attack, six were identified yesterday, all German nationals.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday authorities are assuming the incident was a terrorist attack.
Earlier Die Welt newspaper cited a high-ranking security source as saying that the Pakistani refugee was not involved in the attack. Police in NY and Chicago said Monday that they had beefed up their presences at high-profile locations as a precaution. “His face was swollen and bloodied”. It was really clear that he was fighting for his life, ‘ Ariel Zurawski told Polish broadcaster TVN. They said the lorry had been hijacked in Poland on Monday.
De Maiziere said that the suspect denies involvement in the attack.
He described Mr Urban as a “good, quiet and honest person”.
Some, however, laid the blame for the attack with the chancellor, and her choice to welcome asylum seekers.
All of a sudden there was a big boom and the people in front me jumped on top of me.
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France is set to increase security at Christmas markets after the Berlin attack.
