Naved B, a Pakistani asylum-seeker, is being investigated prior to his involvement with the Berlin Christmas Market attack which killed 12 people and injured 48. In the evening of December 19, a truck plows the Christmas market near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which is one of the historical sites in Berlin.
The incident is currently being investigated to discern if it is a terror attack or an accident. It is immediately related to the Nice attack in France where 80 people were killed during Bastille Day because of a truck running over the curbside pedestrians.
Several witnesses expressed their experiences regarding the recent incident in Berlin.
"I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed," Australian Trisha O'Neil stated.
"I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there."
The truck was stolen from a company in Poland, a two-hour drive to Berlin, according to NY Times. The truck driver, a Polish national who has been reported missing, was found dead at the passenger's side of the truck. Ariel Zurawski, a cousin of the driver, stated that he was not capable for acts of terrorism.
"I vouch for him. He's my cousin and I've known him for ages. I trust him completely," Zurawski said. "He's very dedicated to his job. He's a very experienced driver and always takes great care of the equipment."
Naved B arrived in Germany last year and has been staying in a non-operational Berlin airport, according to BBC. His application for asylum is not yet completely processed. He denies any involvement in the incident. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany currently identified the incident as a terrorist attack.
Bavaria's interior minister Joachim Herrmann has called for a review of German refugee policy in light of the incident.
Interior Minister of Bavaria, Joachim Herrmann stated that a review regarding the German refugee policy must be conducted and search for any weaknesses and holes to avoid terror attacks.
"If it is confirmed that this attack was committed by someone who has been registered as an asylum seeker in the country, then it must lead to a fundamental reflection on the design of the whole refugee system," Herrmann said, according to Independent.
