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German lorry attack in Limburg seen as 'act of terrorism' | |
(32 minutes later) | |
An attack on motorists in the western town of Limburg is being investigated as terrorism, security sources have told German media. | An attack on motorists in the western town of Limburg is being investigated as terrorism, security sources have told German media. |
On Monday, a man hijacked a lorry and ploughed into eight vehicles waiting at a traffic light, injuring eight people. Seven were treated in hospital. | On Monday, a man hijacked a lorry and ploughed into eight vehicles waiting at a traffic light, injuring eight people. Seven were treated in hospital. |
A thirty-two year-old suspect has been arrested. | A thirty-two year-old suspect has been arrested. |
Originally from Syria, he has been living in Germany since 2015, local reports say. | Originally from Syria, he has been living in Germany since 2015, local reports say. |
Public broadcaster ZDF quoted sources as saying the incident was being treated by investigators as having a "terrorist background", although Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Tuesday he could not yet say how the incident was being classified. | Public broadcaster ZDF quoted sources as saying the incident was being treated by investigators as having a "terrorist background", although Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Tuesday he could not yet say how the incident was being classified. |
Police searched a flat in Langen south of Frankfurt early on Tuesday and said it was linked to what had happened in Limburg, local reports said. | Police searched a flat in Langen south of Frankfurt early on Tuesday and said it was linked to what had happened in Limburg, local reports said. |
The owner of the stolen lorry told the Frankfurter Neue Presse (FNP) newspaper that he had been dragged from his vehicle by the man, who had forced the door open. | The owner of the stolen lorry told the Frankfurter Neue Presse (FNP) newspaper that he had been dragged from his vehicle by the man, who had forced the door open. |
"What do you want from me?" the driver said he asked the man. "He didn't say a word. I asked him a again and then he dragged me out of the lorry." | "What do you want from me?" the driver said he asked the man. "He didn't say a word. I asked him a again and then he dragged me out of the lorry." |
Another witness, Bettina Yeisley, described talking to the hijacker afterwards without realising he had driven the lorry. | Another witness, Bettina Yeisley, described talking to the hijacker afterwards without realising he had driven the lorry. |
"I spoke to him. He was bleeding from his nose, his hands were bloody and his trousers torn. He said 'my whole body hurts.' I asked his name and he told me his name was Mohammed," she told the newspaper. Other German reports gave his name as Omar. | "I spoke to him. He was bleeding from his nose, his hands were bloody and his trousers torn. He said 'my whole body hurts.' I asked his name and he told me his name was Mohammed," she told the newspaper. Other German reports gave his name as Omar. |
Marius Hahn, the Mayor of Limburg north-west of Frankfurt, said his thoughts were with the injured and their families. | Marius Hahn, the Mayor of Limburg north-west of Frankfurt, said his thoughts were with the injured and their families. |
Germany has been on high alert following several jihadist attacks in recent years. | Germany has been on high alert following several jihadist attacks in recent years. |
The most deadly was in December 2016 when a man drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. | The most deadly was in December 2016 when a man drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. |
Anis Amri, the Tunisian behind the attack, was shot and killed in Italy four days later. | Anis Amri, the Tunisian behind the attack, was shot and killed in Italy four days later. |