9 Killed at Berlin Market via Truck ramming

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9 Dead After Truck Drives Into Christmas Market in Berlin

The latest news here in Australia suggest that number has risen to 12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ ... mas-market

Apparently The US president-elect, Donald Trump, said it was a terror attack and blamed “Islamist terrorists”.

A taste of his presidency to come in that he didn't bother to consult anyone or check any sources first before announcing "mussies did it"...

I know the talking heads on CNN are leaning toward an ISIS connection, but that was much later in the day. Trump had made a guess. Considering that he seems to think he's too smart to need intelligence briefings, his guesses are going to prove to be wrong at the wrong time.

US president-elect Donald Trump called it a “horrifying terror attack”, blaming “Isis and other Islamist terrorists [who] continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship”. (his words)

In response to Trump's declaration Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, urged caution:
"There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation."

I am very sad about it. I love Berlin. It is one of my favorite places on Earth, and the market by the Gedächtnis-Kirche is so wonderful. Never mind that idiot Trump. As the mayor of Nice said, it is a very similar attack. And it is an attack on a very similar place. Nice and Berlin are some of the most wonderful places in Europe, where that European spirit lives. Places that take in huge numbers of tourists, yet manage to stay alive culturally.

We should all keep celebrating our traditions. I think the terrorists target these things partly because they are places where people come together and bond, but also partly because they are jealous. In the lives of the ultra-religious, there is no beauty.

ISIS is claiming responsibility

a "Pakistani refugee' was who was behind the wheel

why are Pakistanis able to claim refugee status?

The thing is from my observation, he usually ends up being correct in theses kinds of situations. I think he's considerably more astute than some are willing to believe.

And you see, it does end up that he knows what he's talking about, but of course that's not good enough.

It's like pure scorn, cynicism and hatred with a complete lack of objectivity when it comes to leftists. Why would I want to join up with that?

If he was being kept at a refugee center, they probably haven't had time to process his application yet. There is huge pressure on the system. Also, there is some confusion as to whether he was Afghan or Pakistani.

Pakistan does persecute some minorities, such as Christians and Ahmadiyas.

Some countries have fast track processing for presumably groundless asylum seekers, but Germany may not have that.

Unless Trump has access to better intelligence than the German government, he probably didn't know, and it was only a guess. Whether it was a good guess or not is bedside the point. A president's job is to wait until he knows.

Even more important is the ability to keep calm in a crisis, whch George W. Bush proved so amply that he didn't have. When the President, or President-to-be of the most powerful country on Earth goes and says something like that immediately after an incident, it dramatically increases the chances that some lunatic will go and firebomb a Mosque somewhere, or stab a hijab-wearing woman in the street. That is why all the other state leaders are sitting still in the boat. Eventually they will comment more specifically.

He's merely a suspect; the police his not certain to having caught the right guy.

I take it you know precisely who he talked to and what information he received prior to his statement?

The Pakistani gentleman has been released. He was not the driver.

The driver is still on the loose.

Sigh. Another instance of people going somewhere nice to enjoy themselves and something like this happens. It's scary honestly.

Time/Yahoo: Berlin Cops Release Initial Suspect Detained in Truck Attack

They may never find the culprit. This all makes me want to find a Hobbit hole to hide in.

Trump's announcement preceded the US state department which was more circumspect and did not allege blame. The German authorities did not receive a declaration from ISIS till much later. The point is the president elect can't shoot their mouth off till they get the facts.