Possible Terror Attack on Berlin Christmas Market; Twelve Dead

Twelve holiday shoppers were killed Monday when a black semitrailer plowed through a Christmas market in Berlin; dozens more were injured. As of this morning, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police took a Pakistani man into suspect on Monday, but he was released Tuesday afternoon.

“They’re really back to square one in terms of this investigation,” reports CNN’s Paul Cruickshank. “It may well be a scenario of a manhunt, a race against time to arrest this individual before they can strike again.” 

A dead man was found in the truck’s passenger seat after the attack. It appears that he was shot. Ariel Zurawski, owner of the truck company, told the press that the truck was likely hijacked. The truck’s normal driver – Zurawski’s cousin – is still missing. 

Berlin police urge the public to stay on the alert as they search for more clues. “We do not know if there was one perpetrator or several perpetrators yet,” said General Prosecutor Justice Peter Frank. “We do not know if there was support given to the perpetrator.”

Monday’s attack is disturbingly reminiscent of the ISIS truck attack in Nice, France that killed 86 and injured over 200 in July. No group has claimed responsibility for the Berlin attack, but we do know that ISIS and other terrorist groups often encourage followers to utilize vehicles as weapons. 

Both President-elect Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel believe the crash was a terror attack. 

“I, like millions of people in Germany, am horrified and deeply sad about what happened yesterday in Berlin,” said Merkel, adding that it would be “especially disgusting” if the perpetrator had been “given protection and asylum in Germany.” 

“Our hearts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of today’s horrifying attack in Berlin,” said Trump on Monday. 

“Innocent civilians were murdered in the streets as they prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday. ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad. These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners.” 

Editor’s note: Per the typical political correctness, no one is yet saying the words “radical Islamic terrorist.”  How does that song go – “how do we sleep when our beds are burning.”