Germany truck attack: Police say they have 'wrong man' in custody; more attacks imminent

The German Police have reportedly arrested the wrong man for the terror attack in the Berlin Christmas market on Monday which killed 12 people and injured 48 others. The man arrested earlier had been identified as being of Pakistani and Afghani descent. The true perpetrator was reportedly armed — and therefore dangerous — and is still at large.

The head of the federal police, according to Reuters, has also warned that Germany can "expect further significant attacks shortly after such an incident."

German newspaper Die Welt News quoted the German Police as admitting this mistake in the arrest of the perpetrator of the attack which German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, the German Interior Ministry has said that the Christmas market should stay open — a move expected to show the resilience of the German people and the state against terrorism.

On Monday, a man drove a stolen truck through a Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, killing 12 people. The truck drove 50-80 metres, crossed a sidewalk and destroyed booths.

A Polish man was found dead in the passenger seat of the truck cab, while the suspected driver managed to flee. An individual was taken into custody, but the police failed to ascertain if he was the driver.

Crackdown on immigrants imminent?

Several German politicians have called for a crackdown on migrants coming into the country, in light of not only Monday night's terror attack but also a slew of similar terror attacks or attempts.

For example, a mere 12-year-old boy was arrested recently for planning two terrorist attacks in the western city of Ludwigshafen in November and December. The boy reportedly attempted twice to blow up a homemade nail bomb at a Christmas market in the city.

Earlier, an Iraqi asylum-seeker in the country had been arrested on charges that he had tried to rape a Chinese student and actually raped another.