Berlin police, citizens and German chancellor candidate react to terror attack in Manchester

Record ID: 876660

  • Title: Berlin police, citizens and German chancellor candidate react to terror attack in Manchester
  • Date: 23rd May 2017
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF BRITISH EMBASSY WITH FLAG AT HALF MAST VARIOUS OF WOMAN LAYING FLOWER OUTSIDE EMBASSY FLOWERS AT BRITISH EMBASSY CLOSE OF UNION JACK VARIOUS OF MAN PLACING CANDLE AT BRITISH EMBASSY SPD LEADER AND CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE, MARTIN SCHULZ, WALKING INTO SPD HEADQUARTERS FOYER STATUE IN FOYER (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPD LEADER AND CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE, MARTIN SCHULZ, SAYING: "We offer our deepest solidarity and sympathy to those families that are affected, the British nation and the citizens of Manchester - a city that is deeply rooted in the tradition of the labour movement. Terror attacks of this kind are also attacks on a way of life, the way of life of a whole generation. It isn't the first time that we are experiencing attacks on these sort of venues. We can all remember the terrible attacks in Paris. For those who carry out attacks like these, we have just one message: You will fail! Whoever is responsible for this brutal attack on the open and tolerant ways of our society in which young people can realise themselves the way they wish to, and which forms the basis of our society, our coexistence together. And we will defend our way of life against all those who think they can destroy this with terror. Murderers hear this: whatever you try, our society is stronger than your hate and your extremism." VARIOUS OF BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, BEING INTERVIEWED EXTERIOR OF BERLIN POLICE STATION (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, SAYING: "We have busy days ahead. We have, of course, prepared ourselves well. We know that the terror threat is big and so we have followed a security concept to cover all possible scenarios. We will put concrete bollards up, there will be bag checks and of course there will be security officers who are keeping an eye out for anything suspicious in the area." BERLIN COAT OF ARMS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN POLICE SPOKESMAN, THOMAS NEUENDORF, SAYING: "Unfortunately the terror threat had been very high for a while now. So, we have already calculated various scenarios in advance and the incident in Manchester shows us that it is good to be prepared for all eventualities. We will of course see if we need to do any fine-tuning but we feel well prepared." GENDARMEN MARKT WITH PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR GERMAN PROTESTANT CHURCH DAYS PEOPLE SEEN THROUGH FENCING TRESTLE TABLES PILED UP ON GENDARMENMARKT SQUARE VARIOUS OF FORK-LIFT TRANSPORTING TRESTLE TABLES GERMAN BUNDESTAG (PARLIAMENT) WITH CHAIRS AND SET UP FOR PROTESTANT CHURCH DAYS PEOPLE SITTING ON CHAIRS VARIOUS OF FLAGS READING (German): "YOU SEE ME" (SOUNDBITE) (English) BERLIN VISITOR, JOSH WILLIAMS, SAYING: "I feel like I am always aware wherever I travel, I like to travel and I feel like I look a little more frequently at, I pay attention a lot more, trying to notice anything that is out of place or people that look a little different or appear to be not in the right state of mind, that shouldn't fit in that world or that area. I don't know much about what happened last night but it is just pretty weak obviously." (SOUNDBITE) (English) BERLIN VISITOR, BRUCE WILLIAMS, SAYING: "I feel like I am not going to change my lifestyle and I am not going to be afraid because of what some terrorists feel like their planet should be like." (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN VISITOR, TAMARA GALBIER, SAYING: "Basically I think that anything can happen anywhere. Still, it shouldn't stop people doing what they want to do. It's what I think. I feel a bit uncomfortable, yes, because these things are happening more and more often and in the case of Manchester, no one was expecting it. I mean, why Manchester? Why the Christmas market in Berlin and so on. But basically I think it shouldn't stop people doing what they want to do." BRANDENBURG GATE (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN VISITOR, ROY WILHELMI, SAYING: "I heard about it late last night. First I was shocked, I have to be honest, that another thing has happened and then I am visiting a big city, and Berlin is presumably also a target. And then of course you are shocked initially. But today all the people are still relaxed. In the meantime maybe we can deal with it better. You have to be able to get on with daily life and you have to try and not let it get you down and it is of course difficult for the relatives. They have my deepest sympathy but you just have to go on and one shouldn't give them the satisfaction and hide too deeply." PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (German) BERLIN VISITOR, LISA PARROT, SAYING: "Personally I find it really awful. I can't really believe it. I am actually from England. I lived in Manchester for four years and studied there. I think it is so awful. My friends are always there. I've got family there. I just can't believe something like this can happen in a city that I know so well. I think it makes everyone frightened. It scares me and I hope that something can be done about it." STREET BARRIERS PILED UP PEOPLE SETTING UP SEATING AT BUNDESTAG SEATING IN FRONT OF BUNDESTAG WITH CHANCELLORY SEEN IN THE DISTANCE
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2017 16:21
  • Keywords: Church Days Berlin police terror attack security
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016I2837R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Union Jack at the British embassy in Berlin was flying at half-mast on Tuesday (May 23) after a suicide attack at a concert in Manchester, which killed at least 22 people.
    Security measures around the Brandenburg Gate, where from Wednesday on more than 100,000 Christians will attend the annual meeting of the Protestant church in Germany, were expected to be heightened.
    Berlin police said they were not planning any extra measures as a result of the Manchester attack as terror threat levels were already high due to the attack on a Berlin Christmas market.
    The protestant church days will see thousands of people converging on Berlin city landmarks and former U.S. president Barack Obama is also due to visit on Thursday (May 25).
    Social Democrat leader and German chancellor candidate Martin Schulz offered his deepest condolences to "a city that is deeply rooted in the tradition of the labour movement".
    As a small group gathered in front of the British embassy in Berlin to pay their respects, Berlin visitors expressed shock at the attack but said it was important people continued to live their lives.
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