Large-scale operation in the center of Berlin. In the morning, a driver drove into a group of people and killed a woman and injured other people. What is known so far: about the driver, the victims, the investigation.
A dead woman, several injured – and a lot of questions. After a driver drove into a group of people at the Berlin Memorial Church, the police are investigating the course of the death drive and a motive for the possible shooting. Because in the afternoon a letter of confession was discovered.
What is known so far about the incident in Berlin – and what is not (as of June 8, 7 p.m.):
course of the death journey
According to the police, a man drove into a group of people on the sidewalk at 10:26 a.m. with a silver-colored Renault Clio on the corner of Kurfürstendamm and Rankestrasse. About 200 meters further on, he is said to have steered the car onto the sidewalk again shortly before the corner of Tauentzienstrasse and Marburger Strasse, rammed another car and then came to a stop in the window of a Douglas branch. “It was very, very fast, definitely 150,” recalled an eyewitness, according to the DPA news agency. The police are still investigating the exact process.
dead and injured
According to police, a woman died. A covered body lay near the Kurfürstendamm / Rankestraße / Tauentzienstraße intersection in the morning. It is a teacher from Bad Arolsen in northern Hesse. After initially there was talk of up to 30 injuries, the number could be corrected downwards. The Berlin fire brigade recently spoke of six life-threatening injuries and three serious injuries. In addition, there should be easier injured people. According to information from the DPA and the “Bild” newspaper, a group of tenth-grade students was affected. Support teams were also sent to Bad Arolsen. Further information was initially not available. “Please understand that we will not release information about the injured before the relatives are informed,” the police said.
Car driver
The driver of the Renault Clio was detained by passers-by after driving and handed over to the police. He was provisionally arrested. According to the investigators, it is a 29-year-old Berliner. According to the DPA, he is said to have been known to the police – but not in connection with extremism. The car therefore belongs to the man’s sister. Documents and posters were found in his car, said Berlin’s Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD). Little was initially known about the content, Spranger explained that there were statements relating to Turkey without going into detail. It is not yet clear if they are related to the trip. The “Bild” newspaper quoted an investigator: “Definitely not an accident – a gunman, an ice-cold killer.” A police spokeswoman has not yet confirmed this on request. Spranger (SPD) announced that the suspect would be checked “in all directions”.
investigations
Shortly after the possible rampage, the police were on site with around 130 officers and the fire brigade with more than 100. Police and rescue helicopters were also deployed. Police spokesman Thilo Cablitz assured that all variants would be checked by his colleagues: an accident, a medical emergency or an intentional act. Among other things, the investigators are concerned with reconstructing the course of events in detail. Hours after the driver drove into the crowd, investigations into the vehicle continued. The area around was cordoned off. The investigations are still in the early stages. It is not known whether the arrested man has already commented. The police are asking witnesses to provide information, videos or photos via an information portal on the Internet.
reactions
Psychosocial care was organized on site for those affected by the death trip, for witnesses, but also for the emergency services. Relatives can contact the police on (030) 84854460. A memorial service was planned for the evening in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The incident also sparked national outrage. “My thoughts are with the seriously and very seriously injured, with the fatalities,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for example. The federal government has also expressed its condolences. Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey got an idea of the situation on site. “We will do everything we can to help those affected,” said the SPD politician. The Hessian state government also said: “This shocking news from Berlin makes me stunned and deeply affected. My thoughts are with the victims, who were full of joy on a class trip in the capital,” said Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU).
Sources: Berlin police, Berlin fire brigade, “Bild” newspaper, DPA and AFP news agencies
