Commemoration of terror victims at Berlin Christmas market

Numerous flowers and candles can be seen at the memorial site of the attack on Breitscheidplatz.

The seventh anniversary of the Islamist terrorist attack on the Christmas market at Berlin's Memorial Church is also commemorated with a memorial service.

On the evening of December 19, a service is planned in the Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz near Kurfürstendamm, as the Senate Chancellery announced on request. According to the church, the service will be organised by Protestant Bishop Christian Stäblein and Pastor Kathrin Oxen. Afterwards, as in previous years, the names of the 13 victims who died at the time will be read out at the memorial at the back of the church where the attack took place.

"Abstract terror threat" remains high

Berlin's Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD) continues to see a high abstract terror threat in view of the intensified Middle East conflict. "The police are prepared accordingly and are protecting Jewish and Israeli institutions, as well as the Christmas markets in our city, both visibly and with covert means," Spranger told the German Press Agency. "We are prepared for various attack scenarios." At the same time, Spranger emphasised: "There is no 100 per cent protection in open societies like ours. Those who claim this are making a promise of security that they cannot fulfil." However, the Interior Senator called on people not to be intimidated. "If we do that, the terrorists will have achieved their goal."

13 people died in the attack

On December 19, 2016, an Islamist terrorist drove a hijacked lorry into the Christmas market. A total of 13 people died as a result of the attack, one of them years later from the consequences. Around 70 people were injured, some of them seriously. The attacker fled to Italy, where he was shot dead by the police.