Police uncover new evidence in Berlin truck attack

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

The fingerprints of Anis Amri, a prime suspect in Monday's deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, have been found in the cab of the truck that ploughed into crowds, interior minister said on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said police have uncovered new details about the suspect, who is currently being searched nationwide and across Europe.

“We can tell you today that there are additional signs showing that with high possibility this suspect was the perpetrator. In the cockpit, or in other words, in the driver’s cab of the truck, fingerprints have been found, and there are also some other hints suggesting this,” de Maiziere said.

The minister made the remarks after visiting the Federal Criminal Police Office, or BKA, together with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Justice Minister Heiko Maas, to get a briefing on the ongoing investigation into the suspected terror attack that killed at least 12 people and injured nearly 50 others.

While the Daesh terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack, no concrete details have emerged about the identity of the perpetrator or a group of perpetrators.

German police issued a European arrest warrant on Wednesday for the 24-year-old Amri, a Tunisian citizen, in connection to the attack.

Authorities have released photos of Amri and appealed to the public for any information on his whereabouts, cautioning, however, he was allegedly extremely dangerous and probably armed.

Officials offered a €100,000 ($104,000) bounty for information leading to his arrest.

Police believe the truck used in the attack was stolen from a Polish company on Monday, and its original driver had been killed by the suspect, or the suspects. He was found dead in the truck soon after the attack.

Local media reported that Amri was known to German police for minor offences and for his alleged connections to extremist groups.

Reports have claimed he arrived in Germany from Italy in 2015, but his asylum request was not accepted by German authorities.