Christmas market in Berlin reopens three days after terror attack killed 12 revellers and injured 50 more
The atmosphere at the market is sombre, with vendors choosing not to play music and concrete blocks placed for protection
The Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, where the terror attack took place, reopened to shoppers with extra security yesterday after being closed for three days.
Concrete blocks were placed around the market and extra police guards were put on patrol in the area for added protection.
“After an attack like this it’s nice to see that people stay strong and carry on,” said one of the visitors, David Ulbricht, a 24-year-old event manager.
“You notice the mood is very subdued, everyone is quiet,” said one of the food vendors, Jan-Philipp Biermann.
“We’re not playing music... because that is meant to reflect joy,” he said.
“We are upset, we’re trying to deal with it. It happened and you keep that in the back of your head.”
The market has been shut since a hijacked lorry ploughed into revellers on Monday evening, killing 12 and injuring 50 others.
ISIS was quick to claim responsibility for the attack, in which the truck tore through stalls leaving a bloody trail in its wake, before ending its 150ft rampage outside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the city’s centre.
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It is understood that the driver was murdered by the perpetrator of the attack, with his body discovered on the passenger seat of the vehicle.
Police said the lorry was stolen from a building site in Poland and it is being forensically examined by German authorities.