Wave of terror - Triple attack spreads fear across Europe

A series of deadly attacks brought terror to Europe and beyond last night, including the slaying of shoppers at a Christmas market, the assassination of an ambassador, and the shooting of worshippers gathered for prayer, writes Catheirne Shanahan.

The highest death toll was seen in Berlin, where an articulated lorry ploughed into a Christmas market killing at least nine people and injuring up to 50.

German police described the incident as “a deliberate attack” and warned shoppers to remain at home as a huge security operation was mounted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that were no reports of any Irish citizens among the dead or injured, but that the situation was being monitored.

Berlin’s Christmas markets are a big draw for Irish shoppers with cheap flights operating between Dublin and the German capital.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “I am horrified by the loss of life in Berlin this evening. I extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. I urge Irish citizens in Berlin to follow the advice of local authorities and to make contact with their families who may be concerned at this concern.”

Further afield, in Ankara, Andrei Karlov, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, was gunned down at a Russian embassy-sponsored exhibition.

The gunman is seen at rear on the left as Andrei Karlov speaks at the gallery in Ankara, moments before his death. Picture: AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici

A man wearing a suit and tie shouted “Allahu akbar” and fired at least eight shots, according to an eyewitness.

The attacker, reported to be an off-duty policeman, also smashed several of the photos in the exhibition, and there was panic as people ran for cover after the shots were fired, with three other people reportedly wounded in the attack. Turkish television reported the gunman had been killed by police.

There were reports that the gunman referred to the situation in the Syrian city Aleppo, where rebel-held areas had been bombarded by Russian forces supporting president Bashar Assad’s regime.

Russia president Vladimir Putin said the killing was a despicable provocation aimed at spoiling Russia-Turkey ties and derailing his country’s attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis. “There can only be one response — stepping up the fight against terrorism. The bandits will feel this happening,” he said.

Meanwhile, in the Swiss city of Zurich, three people were injured in a shooting at an Islamic centre.

Zurich police said an unidentified person entered the centre, not far from the city’s main train station, and fired several shots at a group of people gathered for prayers. The attacker, believed to be about 30 years old, fled the scene. Both city and cantonal police began a search for the attacker and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

In addition, police said they found the body of a man a few blocks from the shooting and are investigating whether there is a connection to the attack.

Police secure the area in front of the Islamic center, in Zurich. Picture: AP

In Berlin, a potential suspect, believed to be the lorry driver, was arrested and taken into custody close to the zoo. A second person in the driver’s cab “died on the spot”, according to German police.

While Berlin mayor Michael Muller said “the situation is under control”, the sense of panic was palpable on social media, with comparisons rife between last night’s attack and the atrocity that claimed 86 lives in Nice on Bastille Day in July. Both attacks involved trucks being driven through large groups of people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the French attack and there were reports last night that they had also laid claim to the Berlin attack.

The tragedy began at around 7pm Irish time, when the truck careered into stalls selling food and drink and traditional Christmas fare at a point in the evening popular with families.

The Polish owner of the truck said he feared the vehicle, originally driven by his cousin, may have been hijacked.

One eyewitness, UK tourist Emma Rushton, wrote on Twitter: “We were enjoying the Xmas lights and mulled wine. We were sat, ready to get up, we heard a loud bang, we saw to our left Xmas lights torn down and we saw the top of an articulated lorry crashing through the stalls and through people.

“We wanted to get out as soon as possible. We wanted to get to a safe place. From my opinion, it was going at 40mph, there was no road nearby and no signs it was slowing down. There was no way it could have come off like an accident. The stall where mulled wine was being served was crushed. I saw people bleeding, lying in the pavement.”