Manhunt for suspect in Berlin Christmas market attack

BERLIN

German police have launched a manhunt for the suspect of the Christmas market attack, with local media reporting that he is a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Tunisia.

Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere confirmed on Wednesday that police is looking for a suspect after the deadly attack, but underlined that he is not yet identified as the perpetrator.

“Since midnight there is an arrest warrant against this suspect, which is issued for Germany and the Schengen system. That means also for Europe,” he told reporters at German parliament, after briefing lawmakers about Monday’s incident.

He declined to make a comment on local media reports, which claimed that the suspect is 24-year-old asylum seeker Anis A,, who is believed to be Tunisian.

“I would neither confirm, nor deny these speculations in media about the details of this person,” de Maiziere said, stressing that authorities would continue their investigation taking into consideration all sorts of possibilities.

The suspected truck attack on a popular Christmas market on Monday night killed at least 12 and injured nearly 50 others.

While Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, so far no concrete detail emerged about the perpetrator or group of perpetrators.

Local media claimed that police have found identity documents of Anis A. in the truck, which was not yet officially confirmed.

The truck had a Polish license plate, and was believed to have been stolen by the suspect or suspects.

Its original driver, who was a Polish citizen, was found dead in the truck soon after the incident.

While German police arrested a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker on Monday night near the Christmas market, Federal Prosecutor's Office ordered his release on Tuesday, due to insufficient evidence.

A witness claimed that the man was running away from the scene soon after the suspected attack.