Germany is reportedly searching for a Tunisian suspect in the Berlin market truck attack

Germany is searching for new suspect in terrorist attack

(Image credit: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images)

published 21 December 2016

German investigators are searching for a Tunisian man whose identity document was found in the cab of the 18-wheeler that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin on Monday, German media reported Wednesday. According to Der Spiegel, the temporary residency permit points to a man in his early 20s who goes by the name Anis A., born in the southern Tunisian city of Tataouine. Bild says the man, who uses aliases, is part of a large Islamist network and may be dangerous. On Tuesday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 12 people and injured 48, though it did not identify the purported ISIS-inspired assailant.

Germany initially arrested a Pakistani asylum-seeker, but released him on Tuesday citing a lack of evidence tying him to the attack. Berlin police say they had gotten 508 tips on the truck rampage by Tuesday night, and are examining DNA evidence gathered from the cab of the semi.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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