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Berlin Breitscheidplatz: Lorry kills nine at Christmas market
An articulated lorry has ploughed into a busy Christmas market in the heart of Berlin, killing nine people and injuring many more, police say.
Berlin State Interior Minister Andreas Geisel said it was still unclear if it had been an attack or an accident.
A suspicious person was arrested nearby, policy say, while what they describe as a passenger was found dead.
The market is at Breitscheidplatz, close to the Kurfuerstendamm, the main shopping street in the city's west.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has been in contact with the interior minister and the mayor of Berlin, her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, tweeted.
"We are in mourning for the dead and hope that the many injured can get help," he added.
German President Joachim Gauck said in a statement that it was an "awful evening for Berlin and for our country".
As emergency vehicles filled the area, Berlin police said they had "no indications of further dangerous situations in the city near #Breitscheidplatz".
They also appealed to the public to avoid the area and stay at home. They issued a number for those concerned about loved ones to call: +49 30 54023 111.
Facebook has set up a "Safety Check" page for people affected to let others know they are safe.
France has stepped up security at its Christmas markets.
Terror attack?
According to the DPA news agency, police believe the lorry drove 50-80 metres (54-87 yards) through the market area during the incident, which occurred at 20:14 local time (19:14 GMT).
"The sequence of events points to either an accident or an attack," Berlin State Interior Minister Andreas Geisel said.
