Germany truck attack: Berlin Christmas market attack was likely by an asylum seeker, says Angela Merkel

The German Police on Monday said that the truck attack in Berlin's main market square was done intentionally. The attacker was allegedly of Pakistani and Afghani descent, reports said. A dead man found inside the truck was not involved in the attack, the police said. 

The dead man was most likely the driver, who was killed and then the vehicle was hijacked by the terrorist. ISIS reportedly took credit for the tragedy during Christmas celebrations.

The attack would put pressure on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is already fighting accusations of being responsible for deteriorating law and order in the country after allowing migrants and refugees to enter freely.  She had made no comment on the attack yet. 

16:02 pm IST: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Christmas market carnage was a 'terrorist act' that was most likely committed by an asylum seeker. 

15:38 pm IST: Interior Ministry said German Christmas markets should stay open after 'attack'.

10:30 am IST: Police confirmed that the truck was intentionally rammed into the crowd in the Berlin market. 

10:11 am IST: 

10:03 am IST: An eyewitness told CNN that the truck was travelling at more than 60 kph. "There's no way it was an accident," Emma Rushton said. "We saw at least 10 people" injured and lying on the ground. 

"I think everybody thought there was a terrorist attack happening," she said. "People dropped what they were carrying and ran for cover. ... It seemed like the truck just jumped the curb and took a wrong turn and barreled through the crowd," said another eyewitness. 

10:01 am IST: "Please help us. Stay home and do not spread rumors. Follow us here for important information," urged the police. 

10:00 am IST: The police confirmed that the man who was found dead in the truck did not control the truck that drove to the Christmas market Breitscheidplatz.

9:11 am IST: A German MEP Marcus Pretzell blamed German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the truck attack in Berlin on Monday. 

"When will the German rule of law strike back?" tweeted Marcus Pretzell, an MEP for the right wing Alternative for Germany party. "When will this cursed hypocrisy end? It is Merkel's dead!"

8:58 am IST: 

8:55 am IST: Flags at German embassy in the US were at half mast in mourning of victims of horrific events on Monday night at a Berlin Christmas market.

8:50 am IST: 

8:45 am IST: According to German newspaper, the driver was of Afghan heritage and had arrived in Germany in February. He fled the scene before being arrested at a nearby zoo. He was using different aliases. 

8:42 am IST: The original driver, who was Polish, was found dead in the truck. It is believed the truck was hijacked. 

8:41 am IST: The truck laden with steel cargo had mounted the pavement at 7 pm and drove into stalls and shoppers on Breitscheidplatz Square, outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the German capital's main shopping area. 

8:31 am IST: Prayers pour in for Berlin after truck rams into Christmas market killing 12. 

8:25 am IST: In cooperation with forensic scientists, Berlin Police State Criminal Police Office or Landeskriminalamt (LKA) are examining the crime scene at #Breitscheidplatz.

8:24 am IST: Berlin Police confirms death of 12 people at Breitscheidplatz. The injured 48 are cared for by hospitals, the police said. 

8:23 am IST: To find out about missing people, you can call: 030 54023 111

8:22 am IST: The Germany Police have requested people to send evidence by video and photo regarding the attack at Breitscheidplatz to the following upload portal: https://www.bka-hinweisportal.de 

8:21 am IST: The police have blocked the area of the crime scene at Breitscheidplatz.

8:20 am IST: It is suspected that the truck was stolen from a construction site in Poland. The investigations are still ongoing.

8:20 am IST: The suspicious item in Rankestr was a sleeping bag.

8:18 am IST: Seven state prosecutors are leading and supporting the investigations. The Federal Prosecutor General started a parallel proceeding.

8:18 am IST: The truck at Breitscheidplatz has a Polish license plate. There are steel beams on the load plattform inside the truck, the police said. 

8:16 am IST: Please bypass Breitscheidplatz square, the police said. A suspicious item was found there. The police blocked Rankestr for their investigation. 

8:14 am IST: Facebook turned on Safety Check after the Berlin truck attack on a Christmas market. Use it to find out whether your loved ones are safe, the police said.

A truck rammed into a Christmas market in what used to be the heart of West Berlin on Monday night killing 12 people and injuring 48 others in Germany.

The interior minister called it an "attack."

One suspect, who had fled after ramming the truck into wooden huts at the foot of Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church where people were drinking wine during the festive season, was arrested. The incident took place at Breitscheidplatz square.

His nationality is not clear, the police said. Another passenger of the truck also died in the attack.

The attack is reminiscent of the attack in France's Nice on Bastille day in 2016.

Isis is believed to have taken credit for the attack. The jihadist group encourages lone wolf attacks since it is battling government forces in both Iraq and Syria.

France is set to increase security at Christmas markets after the Berlin attack.

Trump also referred to a gun attack on a Zurich mosque that injured three people last night and the killing of the Russian envoy to Turkey while he was giving a speech.