Five years since the terrorist attack in Berlin

On December 19, 2016, the Tunisian Anis Amri crashed into a truck at a Christmas market in West Berlin, leaving behind victims and injured.

The bells of the “Church of Remembrance” (Gedachtnis-Kirche) will ring 13 times today at 8:02 pm in Bridzcade Square in the heart of West Berlin. At that time, 5 years ago, the Tunisian Anis Amri was falling with a stolen truck on the wooden houses of the Christmas market.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will also speak at the memorial service. And one thing is for sure. The president will talk about how the authorities treated the victims and relatives of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on December 19, 2016. Psychologist Reimer Roth, who supports many relatives of the victims, recently sent a letter to Frank-Walter Steinmeier doing reason for “fatal and inhumane behavior of the authorities”.

According to the German psychologist, it took months or even years for the authorities to contact victims and relatives, offering basic assistance. Reimer Roth data show that, on average, it took almost a year from the terrorist attack to the start of psychotherapy. His conclusion is at least disappointing: Many institutions in Germany lack basic knowledge of mental trauma management.

He acted on the orders of the Islamic State

Five years later, the case of the bloodiest terrorist attack on German soil is still accompanied by open questions. The most critical seems to have been answered recently. According to Radio Berlin Brandenburg (RBB), Anis Amri acted on the orders of a senior official of the so-called Islamic State.

A similar terrorist attack with a truck at a Christmas market in Berlin is no longer possible. Dozens of concrete blocks and barriers now protect many squares in the German capital and not just the area in front of the iconic West Berlin church. The draconian security measures are the authorities’ response to the bloody terrorist attack, which has injured the whole of German society.

A few hours before the terrorist attack, Anis Amri, who came to Germany as a refugee from Italy in 2015, killed a Polish driver and stole his truck. He then crashed his 25-ton truck into the crowded Christmas market, leaving behind casualties and serious injuries.

Tragic mistakes of the German law enforcement authorities

After the attack, Anis Amri fled to Italy, where on December 23, he opened fire on police officers, who wanted to check his papers. The Tunisian fell dead during the exchange of fire. For a number of years, Amri was targeted by the German security authorities, who at one point came to the fatal conclusion that there was no danger from Tunisia.

The German parliament’s Inquiry Committee has been dealing with the terrorist attack in Berlin for more than three years, trying to answer the question of whether it could have been prevented. The conclusions of the 1,900-page report are a colossus for the German authorities: tragic mistakes on the part of the Federal Intelligence Service and the Constitution Protection Service in exchanging information, misinterpretation by law enforcement authorities of the dangers posed by Anis and Anis government, which instead of implementing a consistent counter-terrorism strategy has tightened the law on aliens.

Silence will prevail today throughout the day in Bridget Square. At noon a security zone will be created around the temple. Anyone who wants to leave flowers at the memorial to the victims can do so, but only accompanied by a police officer.

Oliver Piper

Edited by: Stefanos Georgakopoulos

Source: Deutsche Welle