ISIS has just come out today to claim responsibility for Monday's gruesome attack on a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people and injured 48 others.
The Islamic State released a statement today through its Amaq news agency describing the driver of the truck used in the mowing of innocent Christmas shoppers as " a soldier" who had responded to the call to wage attacks against countries fighting their group which is also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh.
The statement, however, gave no other details about the driver's identity and did not clarify as well whether the attacker directly interacted with the ISIS group or was just sympathetic to it. The statement was also posted online.
German authorities have also released their chief suspect in the attack because according to the federal prosecutor there is no evidence linking the 23-year-old Pakistani suspect to the crime. Their examination of the truck and the Pakistani guy revealed no evidence that he had been in it. Authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the real culprit especially since the attacker is believed to be armed and dangerous.
The German police have also announced that it will implement increased security measures in public places and at key transit hubs. Local officials also said they would have to make decisions about events that might need to be curtailed for safety reasons. In spite of such moves, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the public to continue with their holiday activities and preparations as she said she does not want the people to do without Christmas markets, without nice outings together. She also said she does not wish to let the people's fear and angst take away their freedom to live.
German's political opposition including an anti-immigration group has pinned the blame on Merkel for the attack due to her immigration policies.
Yesterday, President-elect Donald Trump reacted strongly to the attack in Berlin by pointing to the Islamist terrorists as the culprit as he reiterated his tough campaign promise " to eradicate Islamic extremists from the face of the earth". The 45th American President who has just won yesterday's Electoral College vote also declared that the U.S. under his administration would carry out said mission of eliminating terrorists with all like-minded, freedom-loving partners.
Some in the U.S. mainstream media were quick to question what Trump's basis for " accusing" Islamic terrorists as responsible for the attack. Turns out only a day later that the incoming President is right again.
