German police yesterday stepped up their hunt for the driver of a truck that plowed through a Berlin Christmas market, in a deadly assault claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
The sole suspect — a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker — was released late on Tuesday for lack of evidence, prompting fears of a killer on the loose and further rattling nerves.
“We can’t rule out that the perpetrator is on the run,” German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere told public broadcaster ZDF.
Photo: Reuters
Twelve people were killed when the Polish-registered articulated truck, laden with steel beams, slammed into the crowded holiday market on Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims.
Twenty-four remained in hospital, 14 of whom were seriously injured, De Maiziere said.
The scenes instantly revived nightmarish memories of the July 14 truck assault in the French Riviera city of Nice, where 86 people were killed by a Tunisian militant.
The Islamic State-linked Amaq news agency said “a soldier of the Islamic State” carried out the Berlin carnage “in response to appeals to target citizens of coalition countries.”
There was no evidence to back the claim, nor was the perpetrator identified.
Germany is part of a US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
De Maiziere said several lines of inquiry were being pursued, but “we should let the security services do their job.”
“No one will rest until the perpetrator or perpetrators have been caught,” he told ARD public television.
In a blow to investigators, federal prosecutors announced they had to release the only suspect in custody after finding no forensic evidence to link him to the attack.
The Pakistani man was arrested late on Monday after he was reportedly seen jumping out of the truck and fleeing the scene, but officials had expressed growing doubts over whether they had the right suspect in custody.
“We may have a dangerous criminal in the area,” Berlin Police chief Klaus Kandt said.
Following the suspect’s release, Kandt told ARD television that “one or more” perpetrators were believed to be on the run and possibly armed.
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