Our hearts are with Berlin following the Christmas market tragedy
The people of Berlin are currently dealing with the aftermath of a horrific tragedy. Late Monday night, nine were killed and at least 50 were injured after a truck drove through a crowded Christmas market in Breitscheidplatz. According to CNN, Berlin police tweeted, “A truck just ran over a sidewalk at #Breitscheidplatz Our colleague report multiple injuries. more to follow,” following the devastating event.
In the wake of the catastrophe, Berlin officials apprehended the suspected truck driver, who allegedly drove his vehicle over the sidewalk surrounding the market’s wooden stalls. This occurred near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a symbolic landmark in Berlin. The police reported that there was also a passenger involved, who was found dead inside the truck.
The Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz is one of the major tourist attractions in #Berlin. This is what it looked like. pic.twitter.com/raR2P5iwXe
— Mischa Heuer (@mischaheuer) December 19, 2016
As of right now, this attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism. In fact, the White House released a statement condemning such an attack and Ned Price, the National Security Council spokesperson, said the following:
"The United States condemns in the strongest terms what appears to have been a terrorist attack on a Christmas Market in Berlin, Germany, which has killed and wounded dozens. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of those killed, just as we wish a speedy recovery to all of those wounded. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Germany. We have been in touch with German officials, and we stand ready to provide assistance as they recover from and investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of our closest partners and strongest allies, and we stand together with Berlin in the fight against all those who target our way of life and threaten our societies."
– Price
To find out if your loved ones are safe, Facebook’s Safety Check feature can be used:
Facebook turned on #SafetyCheck. Use it to find out whether your loved ones are safe.#breitscheidplatz https://t.co/cbeIICZksQ
— Polizei Berlin Einsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 19, 2016
Our hearts go out to those in Berlin. For more information and to see how you can help, you can follow the Berlin police force on Twitter.
