BERLIN — Police are trying to understand the “confused” statements of a Berlin man who, in what appears to be a deliberate rampage in Berlin, drove into a school group.
One woman was killed in Wednesday’s attack on a central London shopping street. A teacher from central Germany was also involved. Six others sustained life-threatening injuries. Three others were also seriously hurt.
After his car stopped in a shop window, the driver, a 29 year-old German-Armenian, was quickly taken into custody. Franziska Giffey, Berlin Mayor, stated that authorities had concluded that the incident was caused by an “amok act” by someone who is seriously mentally impaired.
She said that investigators were working to establish the context and determine what, if any, influenced him. She also said that they are “trying to get more out of the partially confused statements he’s making with the aid of a language mediator.”
Iris Spranger (Berlin’s top security officer) said Wednesday that posters had been found in the car, “in which he expressed opinions about Turkey.” However, she denied any responsibility.
Giffey stated that authorities aren’t sure if the posters are connected to Wednesday’s incident.
The car crashed into pedestrians near the scene of an attack in 2016 in which an Islamic extremist drove his truck into a Christmas marketplace, resulting in 13 fatalities. Giffey stated Wednesday’s crash “reopens deeply wounds and traumas” related to that incident.
