Breaking : possible terror attack in Berlin

[MagicMary1]

twitter.com/ap/status/810931083944534016

This is so sad.

woodlander

I'm sure I heard on radio 4 someone (historian I think but I was very distracted while it was on) was asked which year from history 2016 most felt like.
She said 1914

Trees are a great idea - good for air pollution too.

Lessons from history for anybody who is interested.
Depressing, but interesting.
Human kind will survive, but at what cost to individuals?

1Horatio I think the Newcastle one was because the local press posted a photo of the armed police posing with 2 young kids. I am up here, and while I hate the idea we need that sort of protection, it felt a bit mismanaged in telling people about it. It was a very jarring image!

I will admit to thinking of franz ferdinand today upon hearing the news of this ambassadors assasination. Yes, not an archduke, but a potential political catalyst nonetheless. It does seem though that the russians are downplaying this (in context) diplomatically at the moment, so perhaps not. As for WW3? I think it has already started. IMO history will reflect upon these and past events as the slow burn towards world war.

To the PP that asked about complaints regarding security, yes, People were complaining about armed police in newcastle and bollards etc in birmingham. Why, I really dont know. It might not be nice for people to see armed police at these events, but experience has taught us that the alternative is much much worse.

Terribly sad news.

Yes, Berlin is not fast at planning and organising.

pacific Good link. It is sad that people can't appreciate we are actually, globally, experiencing a time of record peace.

I'll see if I can find a link.

I am so glad that tour family are safe Arch but I do take issue with the fact that Berlin is safer than London. Really?
I think Germany will be playing catch up on anti-terrorism compared to London and it's years of experience, even going back to the IRA.

I don't know about WW3 having already started, but I do think it could have done. It is a war without fronts and without nations being pitted against nations, more extreme views and fanatics against moderates and tolerance.

Life must be scary for people to seek certainties in extremism

My nephew is currently in Berlin. He heard the loud bang of the crash; they thought it was a bomb. They were in their hotel when they heard it.

Sky news saying not sure whether tragedy or terror attack. Sad as it is, I am praying it was a tragedy.

Poor Germany and those poor people who have lost their lives tonight.

How horrible. My thoughts and prayers go out to the survivors and families of those killed. I have wonderful memories of the Christkindlesmarkt in Nurnberg when I lived there in the '70s. I hope this dastardly act won't put a stop to them.

That Hopkins woman is disgusting. Cheap thoughts, cheap hateful remarks all for publicity. It should be considered hate speech.

I think many people have a post cold war vision that WW3 will come with a 3 min warning and end in a sudden cataclysmic fashion. I think we dont see it yet because its not how we have always expected it might come if that makes sense?

"I do take issue with the fact that Berlin is safer than London. Really?"

Oh, I don't mean with regard to terrorism - London is streets ahead in that respect, sadly, post 7/7 and with the IRA experience. But Berlin is much safer from petty crime - I think you're less likely to be mugged on the street.

Any crowded area is a target for terrorists. It's impossible to have concrete bollards everywhere to stop lorries ploughing in to people.
If authorities can do this for some events - there will be plenty where they can't sadly.

MrTumble

I don't really get why? As long as they're doing their job a but publicity isn't bad,,,

Anyhow, as for ww3..

lets just look at the Middle East... a few more countries and yes, that would basically be a world war.

I mean, ww2 was very European based as well for quite some time. So...

But Berlin is much safer from petty crime - I think you're less likely to be mugged on the street

I felt very safe in Berlin. Lovely place and great people - so tragic for those poor people and their families

Wrt ambassadors, wasn't there a Bulgarian(?) assassinated in London,via a poisoned umbrella ferrule?

And the Israeli ambassador was shot in 1980(ish-he didn't die from his injuries for 20 odd years after though he was hospitalised all that time)- but there's plenty of precedent without drawing allusions to 1914.

John Simpson is on Panorama tonight, and the BBC blurb makes the point that even now, the 70-90s were more dangerous in terms of terror - those of us old enough will remember Baader -Meinhoff, the Red Army Brigades, the alphabet soup of all the differing Palestinian factions. Sometimes, it doesn't feel like it, though And anyone, no matter their cause, is scum to try to maim and kill, especially civilians, to further their ends. Profoundly as I dislike Ms Hopkins and her views, I don't actually believe that makes her equally evil as a perpetrator, financer or supporter of terror.

Petty crime, I don't doubt Berlin is safer. Think of any tourist hot spot eg Rome and you'll find petty crime. I'd rather have my passport or cash stolen than be blown up.
Wookie I agree with you with regards to WW3. It's a slow burning start but I think that history will see it that way.

hefzi

I don't disagree.

Although, tbh. Seeing as I'm Swiss... I know, it's nothing compared to the attack in Berlin. But Switzerland is generally so peaceful that even a shooting like this is very jarring, it's just so extremely unusual.

So those of you who think it is ww3

Do you think we (as in us in the U.K.) are going to die? Are our children?

It will be interesting to see why/how this has happened.

Extra anti-terrorist measures were put in place, after six arrests in the U.K. and plans were found to attack the Christmas markets.

So the intelligence was there.

If it has been another series of mistakes, serious questions need to be asked.

just :(

so fucking sad and horrible.

Birds you mean plans to attack our xmas markets or theirs? or markets in general?

I suppose essentially because if someone takes a lorry and drives it into a crowd of people there isn't much you could do to prevent it