- Title: Germany releases Tunisian suspect in Berlin truck attack
- Date: 29th December 2016
- Summary: KARLSRUHE, GERMANY (DECEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FRAUKE KOEHLER, PROSECUTOR AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, ARRIVING TO MAKE STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROSECUTOR AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, FRAUKE KOEHLER, SAYING: "The 40-year-old Tunisian who was detained yesterday has been released. He was detained yesterday because there was suspicion that Anis Amri could have sent him a voice message and a picture via a messenger service shortly before the attack. Further investigation has shown that the arrested person was not the possible contact person of Anis Amri and therefore he was released." CAMERA LENS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROSECUTOR AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, FRAUKE KOEHLER, SAYING: "A train ticket was found on Anis Amri which proves a journey from Chambery (France) to Milan (Italy). Also, a SIM card was found on him of the type which were handed out for free in the Netherlands days before which is why we believe that he could have travelled via the Netherlands." CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROSECUTOR AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, FRAUKE KOEHLER, SAYING: "The weapon which Anis Amri used in Italy and with which he fired on an Italian policeman is a weapon made by Erma, calibre 22. The projectile which was confiscated at the site of the attack inside the truck cabin in Berlin is also calibre 22. Whether the weapon is the same will have to be determined by ballistic experts." CAMERA LENS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PROSECUTOR AND SPOKESWOMAN FOR GERMANY'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, FRAUKE KOEHLER, SAYING: "We currently believe that the truck was stopped by an automatic breaking system and that it came to a halt after 70 or 80 metres, thus preventing even worse consequences." CAMERAMAN FILMING KOEHLER WALKING OFF
- Embargoed: 13th January 2017 14:33
- Keywords: Germany prosecutor Berlin Christmas market attack Tunisian detention
- Location: KARLSRUHE, GERMANY
- City: KARLSRUHE, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA0015EXR7LZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: German authorities have released a Tunisian man detained on suspicion of involvement in the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market last week that killed 12 people, a spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor's office said on Thursday (December 29).
"Further investigation has shown that the arrested person was not the possible contact person of Anis Amri and therefore he was released," Frauke Koehler said, referring to the man believed to have hijacked the truck and ploughed it into crowds at a Christmas market in the capital last week.
Investigators found the mobile phone number of the released 40-year-old Tunisian stored in the phone of Amri.
The spokeswoman said that a gun Amri used in the truck had the same calibre as the one he fired at Italian police in Milan, where he was shot dead last week. More tests were needed to determine whether it was the same gun, said Koehler.
She added that the truck's automatic breaking system stopped the vehicle 70 to 80 metres (164 yards) after it hit the market, avoiding more casualties. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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