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Ankara, Berlin, Zurich: A Day of Terror Ankara, Berlin, Zurich: A Day of Terror
(about 1 hour later)
Over the space of a few hours on Monday, an assassin in Ankara gunned down the Russian ambassador to Turkey; a truck plowed through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people; and a gunman opened fire at a Muslim prayer center in Zurich, wounding at least three people.Over the space of a few hours on Monday, an assassin in Ankara gunned down the Russian ambassador to Turkey; a truck plowed through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people; and a gunman opened fire at a Muslim prayer center in Zurich, wounding at least three people.
Here’s what is known about each attack.Here’s what is known about each attack.
• The Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey G. Karlov, was shot and killed at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital, in front of horrified onlookers. The attack was captured on video.• The Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrey G. Karlov, was shot and killed at an art exhibition in the Turkish capital, in front of horrified onlookers. The attack was captured on video.
• The gunman shouted in Arabic “God is great!” and added, in Turkish, “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!” Police officers shot and killed him. He was later identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, a graduate of a police college in Izmir.• The gunman shouted in Arabic “God is great!” and added, in Turkish, “Don’t forget Aleppo, don’t forget Syria!” Police officers shot and killed him. He was later identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, a graduate of a police college in Izmir.
• Russian investigators have arrived in Turkey; the plane that carried them will take Mr. Karlov’s body back to Russia.• Russian investigators have arrived in Turkey; the plane that carried them will take Mr. Karlov’s body back to Russia.
• Russia and Turkey have often been on opposite sides in Syria’s long-running civil war, but relations have improved over the past year, and analysts think the killing is unlikely to destabilize the situation.• Russia and Turkey have often been on opposite sides in Syria’s long-running civil war, but relations have improved over the past year, and analysts think the killing is unlikely to destabilize the situation.
• High-level talks on Syria were set to proceed in Moscow.• High-level talks on Syria were set to proceed in Moscow.
• A truck slammed into a Christmas market, wounding 48 people — 18 of them seriously — in addition to the 12 who died. The truck was registered in Poland, and its driver was found inside the cab of the truck; he had been shot.• A truck slammed into a Christmas market, wounding 48 people — 18 of them seriously — in addition to the 12 who died. The truck was registered in Poland, and its driver was found inside the cab of the truck; he had been shot.
• Chancellor Angela Merkel said the authorities were treating the case as a terrorist attack. • The authorities released the chief suspect in the attack, a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker, who arrived in Germany last December, after expressing uncertainty that he was the driver of the truck. Officials continued to search for an attacker.
• A 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker who arrived in Germany last December was arrested as a suspect, but the authorities later released him after expressing uncertainty that he was the driver of the truck. • The Islamic State claimed that the attacker had acted on behalf of the terrorist group, releasing a statement on Tuesday describing the driver of the truck as “a soldier.”
• Ms. Merkel has been sharply criticized for allowing one million migrants to enter the country, often without screening or background checks. Frauke Petry, leader of the far-right party Alternative for Germany, said in a statement early Tuesday that “Germany is no longer safe” and told the country that it would be Ms. Merkel’s “duty to tell you that.” • Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has been sharply criticized for allowing one million migrants to enter the country, often without screening or background checks. Frauke Petry, leader of the far-right party Alternative for Germany, said in a statement early Tuesday that “Germany is no longer safe” and told the country that it would be Ms. Merkel’s “duty to tell you that.”
• The attack in Germany involved a public space, an emblem of common ground. Ms. Merkel and Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said the violence must not be allowed to change Germany’s free and open society.• The attack in Germany involved a public space, an emblem of common ground. Ms. Merkel and Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière said the violence must not be allowed to change Germany’s free and open society.
• There has been no claim of responsibility. The episode immediately evoked the attack in July in Nice, France, when a French truck driver of Tunisian origin killed more than 80 people during Bastille Day celebrations. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack, but it was not clear if the driver had ties to the group. • The episode immediately evoked the attack in July in Nice, France, when a French truck driver of Tunisian origin killed more than 80 people during Bastille Day celebrations. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for that attack, but it was not clear if the driver had ties to the group.
• A man entered a Muslim prayer center in the center of the city, Switzerland’s largest, and opened fire, wounding at least three people, two of them seriously.• A man entered a Muslim prayer center in the center of the city, Switzerland’s largest, and opened fire, wounding at least three people, two of them seriously.
• The prayer center was largely frequented by Somali immigrants.• The prayer center was largely frequented by Somali immigrants.
• The gunman’s body was found nearby, on a bridge over the Sihl River. Investigators say they believe he committed suicide.• The gunman’s body was found nearby, on a bridge over the Sihl River. Investigators say they believe he committed suicide.
• The gunman, described by officials as a 24-year-old Swiss citizen of Ghanaian descent, has not been identified.• The gunman, described by officials as a 24-year-old Swiss citizen of Ghanaian descent, has not been identified.
• Officials said he had no known links to terrorist groups, and his motives were not clear.• Officials said he had no known links to terrorist groups, and his motives were not clear.