A driver drove a passenger car into a crowd in the center of the German capital Berlin on Wednesday morning. At least one person was killed and at least 14 people injured. This is reported by the Berlin fire brigade and police. At least five of the injured are in life-threatening condition, at least three others are seriously injured.
The driver drove a small, silver-colored passenger car into the crowd on the sidewalk at the Gedächtniskirche, on the famous Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard. Down the street, he came to a stop in the front of a store. German media reports that the deceased person is a 51-year-old teacher from the state of Hesse, who was out with a school class of teenagers. Police say 14 students are among the injured.
It is not yet clear whether it was an accident or an intentional act, the police emphasized. The man believed to be driving the car has been arrested and is being questioned. The police have already announced that it is a 29-year-old German-Armenian man who lives in Berlin. Bystanders detained him and handed him over to officers when they arrived.
Documents and posters
“Documents and posters” were found in the man’s car, a police spokesperson reported to the newspaper Die Zeit. The German newspaper picture reported earlier in the day that it was a letter in which the driver made a confession, but Berlin senator Iris Spranger denied this and stated that it was still unclear whether the find was related to the event.
The attack took place at the site of the incident in December 2016 by Tunisian terrorist Anis Amri, who hijacked a truck and drove it into a Christmas market. Twelve people died as a result. That “of course plays into our minds of how we assess the situation now,” said the police spokesman. “We want to be prepared for all situations.” There are still concrete roadblocks around the square near the Gedächtniskirche to prevent another attack with a vehicle.
Berlin mayor Franziska Giffey wrote on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon that she was “deeply affected” by the morning’s events. “The police are working hard to clear the case.”
With the cooperation of Nynke van Verschuer
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 9 June 2022