Panic and horror took over the usually cheerful Christmas Market at Berlin’s  Gedächtniskirche war memorial near the Zoologische Garten train station in the western part of the city, where a semi-truck plowed into the crowd at 8.15pm (local time), leaving behind twelve dead and more than 50 injured. 

Berlin’s state criminal police have taken over the investigation, confirming suspicions that the incident was a terrorist attack, echoing the one in Nice, where a truck led caused the death of 86 people on Bastille Day. The Christmas Market is heavily frequented by tourists and locals alike with its proximity to Berlin’s most popular shopping areas. 

Berlin police has confirmed that the lorry had Polish plates. It is believed to have been registered in Gdansk and belong to a haulage company. According to witnesses, the 7.5-tonne truck drove into the market at a speed of 60km/h-65km/h for around 80 metres, stopping when it hit a large Christmas tree and leaving behind a scene of devastation. The driver had reportedly fled the scene and headed for the Tiergarten (Berlin Zoo) where he was arrested. Another man was found dead inside the truck; he is believed to be the driver employed by the company. Speaking to a Polish radio station, the owner of the truck vouched for the driver, stating that they had lost contact with him at 4pm (German time). 

The area around the incident has been closed off and emergency facilities have been set up on site for the injured. Berlin Mayor Michael Müller, who visited the scene shortly after 9pm, said that that the situation was under control, according , admitting concerns that his worst nightmare had turned into a reality: “We hope our fears that this is an attack won’t prove true”. 

Although this remains to be confirmed, the incident has already been used by critics of Angela Merkel, condemning the German chancellor for her ‘open-border’ policy towards refugees, which they believe makes the country vulnerable to terrorist attacks.