Hundreds of people are evacuated from Berlin Christmas market before it is reopened after 'bomb scare' false alarm three years after ISIS truck rampage that killed 12
- Berlin police evacuated hundreds of people from the market on Breitscheidplatz
- Two men from Syria were questioned, according to local media reports today
- Police later said two men attracted officers' attention because of their behaviour
- In 2016 Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into market, which killed 12 people
Police have evacuated a Christmas market in Berlin that was targeted in a deadly attack three years ago in what turned out to be a false alarm involving an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Berlin police tweeted on Saturday evening that they were evacuating hundreds of people from the market on the Breitscheidplatz square due to indications of a 'dangerous item'.
Two men from Syria were arrested, according to local media reports earlier today.
Berlin police tweeted on Saturday evening they were evacuating hundreds of people from the market on the Breitscheidplatz square due to indications of a 'dangerous item'
In 2016 Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 people
Two men from Syria were questioned, according to local media reports today
German newspaper Bild reported police were with two 'Islamist perpetrators' who it said had experience with explosives.
But officers later said two men had attracted officers' attention because of their behaviour but were not arrested.
In 2016 Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 people.
One of the two suspects had been living in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Initial suspicions there was an arrest warrant for the other, which arose because his name apparently was similar to someone on a wanted list, turned out to be unfounded.
There were no arrests, but police said they decided to act because of the location's history.
One of the two had been living in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Initial suspicions there was an arrest warrant for the other, which arose because his name apparently was similar to someone on a wanted list, turned out to be unfounded
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Police said measures surrounding Breitscheidplatz had ended at around 9.30pm GMT and that they did not find a 'dangerous item'
People re-enter the Christmas market in Berlin after police reopened it after not finding a suspicious item
As many as 350 officers were deployed.
Police confirmed measures surrounding Breitscheidplatz had ended at around 9.30pm GMT and they did not find a 'dangerous item'.
Amri, drove a stolen truck into the Christmas market on December 19, 2016, killing 12 people, before fleeing the scene.
The 24-year-old ISIS fanatic was stopped after arriving in the suburb of Sesto San Giovanni in the northern Italian city of Milan at about 3am local time on December 23.
Amri, drove a stolen truck into the Christmas market on December 19, 2016, killing 12 people, before fleeing the scene (pictured)
Two officers asked him for ID documents, at which point Amri 'immediately' pulled a gun from his backpack and shouted 'police b******s' as he shot one in the shoulder.
A firefight ensued with Amri cowering behind a car as he tried to flee, but the extremist was shot and killed by the second officer – a trainee who had only been in the job a few months.
Witnesses said the two policemen had then crouched over Amri in a bid to keep him alive, but the Tunisian died after ten minutes.
Amri was made Europe's most wanted man after being identified as the perpetrator, but only after German authorities initially detained the wrong suspect.
Pakistani refugee Naveed Baluch, 23, was taken in for questioning after being arrested around a mile from the scene.
However, he was subsequently released without charge, prompting fears that the real attacker was still at large.
Amri was identified after his wallet was found in the cab of the vehicle, but the German police were slammed as to how this took so long to find, with many critics saying it was 'too convenient' as it had not been found sooner.
THIS IS VENGEANCE FOR AIRSTRIKES AGAINST MUSLIMS - WE WILL SLAUGHTER YOU LIKE PIGS
Ranting into a camera as he shoots a selfie-style video, this it the Berlin lorry killer pledging allegiance to ISIS and vowing to punish 'pig eaters'.
Anis Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and headphones and standing on a bridge over a river as he delivers his chilling speech, warning he wants to become a martyr.
The brainwashed 24-year-old went on to slaughter 11 revellers enjoying a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin on Monday night.
Anis Amri can be seen wearing a dark jacket and standing in front of a river as he delivers his chilling speech, warning he wants to become a martyr
The video, which appeared to have been taken by Amri himself, shows him standing on a footbridge in the north of Berlin, not far from where he allegedly hijacked the truck used in the attack. The site is just a few hundred yards from a Berlin state administration office that deals with asylum matters.
It is unclear whether Amri's case was handled there or whether the video, released online Friday, was taken before or after the attack.
He also says: 'I pledge my allegiance to the caliph Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. I pledge to participate in jihad against the enemies of Allah.
'My message to those infidels who bomb Muslims everyday - we are going to slaughter you like pigs. We will avenge the Muslims you killed and continue to kill.
'And to my Muslim brothers all over the world, fight for this religion whether in your countries or in Europe if you live there, as mush as each of you can.'
As well as his pledge of allegiance, Amri declared his desire to avenge Muslims killed in air strikes and called for attacks against 'Crusaders'.
Amaq had earlier said the man shot dead by Italian police near Milan on Friday carried out the Berlin attack.
Releasing suicide videos of terror attackers after their deaths is a common tactic by ISIS.
In July fanatics were shot dead after murdering an elderly priest at a church in Normandy. A day later, ISIS news outlet Amaq published a video of the two perpetrators pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
As well as his pledge of allegiance, Amri declared his desire to avenge Muslims killed in air strikes and called for attacks against 'Crusaders'
THE FULL TRANSCRIPT:
'All praise to Allah, and may He send blessing and peace upon his Prophet Mohamed.
'I, here, vow to obey the caliph Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi in whatever he orders me to do, even if it was to my disliking, and to continue to do so, unless I am ordered to do something that I know for sure is forbidden in Islam.
'I also vow to work for Islam to prevail; to judge and be judged by its rules; and to work hard until the Islamic State is well established and founded. Finally, I pledge to actively participate in jihad against the enemies of Allah as much as I can.
'And to those infidels, who bomb the Muslims everyday, I swear that we will hunt you and slaughter you like pigs for what you do to these Muslims. Did you think that what you do to them will go unpunished?
'There are masses of Muslims all over the world willing to avenge the Muslims you kill, and they will be avenged, for we are strong and determined to make you pay the price of your actions against them.
'And I call for my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world to take part in jihad, and to fight for the dominance of this religion, as much as each of you can. If you can't join your brothers on the front lines, then fight for Islam in your countries. And if you live in Europe, then fight against those pigs, each to his own abilities. May Allah grant us success in [this fight].'
'I pledge myself to Allah and vow to shed as much blood as it needs for Islam to prevail. I pray for Allah to pave the way for me to kill those infidels who fight Islam and Muslims.'
