Truck Attack at Christmas Market in Berlin Leaves at Least 12 Dead

A truck plowed into a gathering at a Christmas market in Berlin on the evening of Monday, December 20, leaving several dead and many injured. According to reports from the German news agency, Berlin police are investigating the incident as a 'terrorist attack.' Latest reports indicate that at least 12 people have lost their lives, and nearly fifty others have been injured, with the police stating that the condition of some of the injured is critical. The German police have also urged Berlin citizens to stay indoors. They have announced that the driver of the truck has been arrested, and a man accompanying him is dead. The German news agency reported heavy police presence in the area and mentioned that several police vehicles are heading towards the city center. They also noted that this year, security levels in many Christmas markets, which serve as gathering places for local residents and foreign visitors, have been increased. This incident is reminiscent of an attack that occurred in Nice, France, this summer, where a truck driver drove into a crowd watching a Bastille Day celebration, killing 86 people. The perpetrator of that attack was identified as a Tunisian-French citizen, and shortly after, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Less than a month ago, following the discovery and neutralization of an ISIS plot for a new terrorist act in France, the United States warned its citizens in Europe about attending outdoor celebrations and markets.