2016 Berlin truck attack

Terroranschlag-Berlin-Breitscheidplatz-2016 (2) (31731061626) (square crop)

== 2016 Berlin truck attack ==

The 2016 Berlin truck attack was a terrorist attack that occurred on December 19, 2016, at a Christmas market next to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Germany. A truck was deliberately driven into the market, resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuring 56 others.

Background

The attack took place during the Christmas season, a time when Christmas markets are popular in Germany and attract large crowds. The market at Breitscheidplatz, where the attack occurred, is one of the most visited in Berlin.

The Attack

The perpetrator, Anis Amri, a Tunisian national, hijacked a truck and killed its original driver, a Polish citizen named Łukasz Urban. Amri then drove the truck into the crowded market at high speed, causing significant casualties and damage.

Perpetrator

Anis Amri was a failed asylum seeker with known ties to Islamist groups. He had been under surveillance by German authorities but managed to evade capture. After the attack, Amri fled Berlin and was later killed in a shootout with police in Milan, Italy, on December 23, 2016.

Aftermath

The attack led to increased security measures at Christmas markets across Germany and other parts of Europe. It also sparked a debate on immigration policies and the effectiveness of counter-terrorism measures in Germany.

Reactions

The attack was widely condemned by international leaders. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her condolences to the victims' families and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. The incident also led to a temporary suspension of the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz.

See also

• 2016 Nice truck attack
• 2017 Stockholm truck attack
• Terrorism in Europe
• Islamist terrorism