Berlin Christmas market terrorist blown away by rookie cop on the force just NINE MONTHS

THE terrorist behind the Berlin Christmas market massacre was shot dead by a rookie cop outside a train station yesterday.

Fugitive Anis Amri, 24, had managed to flee from Germany to Milan, but was gunned down when he opened fire on two cops who challenged him.

The jihadi reportedly shouted “Allah Akbar” as he was blasted twice by Luca Scata, 29.

IS terrorist Amri wounded Luca’s partner Cristian Movio, 36, in the shoot-out.

The hero cops had stopped Amri for acting suspiciously outside Sesto San Giovanni station.

They did not know he was the suspect wanted for killing 12 people in Berlin by driving a truck into a busy market.

Luca was still on “probation” with the police having only signed up nine months ago. He joined the force in Milan in October.

He was driving the squad car when he and Cristian approached Amri, who had avoided several European police forces as he made his way from Germany.

Police say Amri began to pull a wash bag from his backpack as the officers questioned him.

He told them he had just arrived from the south of the country, but then whipped out a pistol and opened fire.

He hit Cristian in the shoulder, but was shot and killed by Luca as he tried to run away.

One train station employee said: “I heard a shot and then two more. I didn’t think anything of it at first, I thought it was fireworks for Christmas, then a few minutes later I saw flashing blue lights through the curtains.

“I looked out the window and saw a guy on the floor and an ambulance crew performing heart massage on him. There were bandages and a tube coming out of his mouth but he looked dead already.

“I saw an officer holding his shoulder and then more and more police began to arrive. It was only later in the morning I heard it was the Berlin terrorist.”

Amri arrived in Sesto early yesterday morning. The station is just five minutes walk from the steel works at Cinisello Balsamo where the truck he used in Monday’s attack had left from.

Hours later, his lifeless body was pictured surrounded by police evidence markers and a tube could be seen hanging from his mouth.

Police said they believed the .22 pistol they found at the scene was the same gun used to kill Lukasz Urban, the Polish driver whose truck was used in Berlin.

Fingerprints sent to Germany from Italy confirmed it was Amri.

Italy’s Interior Minister Marco Minniti said: “It is him without a shadow of a doubt. Italy is grateful to these two police officers for service rendered to the community.

"I cannot go into further details as the investigation is ongoing but I have spoken to both officers in question and I
have thanked them for what they have done. They were both very brave.

“It remains to be seen what Amri was doing in Italy. Whether he was heading here to see accomplices or simply fleeing we shall have to wait and see what the investigation discovers."

Speaking from a hospital bed in Monza, wounded Cristian thanked his colleague for saving his life.

He said: “The reaction from Luca was first class. I had just asked the guy to show me ID and he was reaching inside his rucksack when he pulled out a gun and fired.

“Luca shot back and that was it. I am grateful and thank him.”

Medics operated on his shoulder yesterday and he is expected to be released today.

Italian cops issued a picture of a bullet hole in his tunic and another of him giving the thumbs up from hospital.

Within minutes of the officers’ names being released, their Facebook pages were inundated with messages of thanks, but were later closed down by officials.

On his page, Luca had posted the motto: “Fear is a reaction, courage is a decision.”

Last night his father, who asked not to be named, said: “His mother and I are very proud of him. Luca has always wanted to be in the police and we were all delighted when he was accepted.

“We have heard from him on the telephone this morning as he wanted to reassure us he was OK. His mother was very shocked.”

Germany’s national police force sent their Italian colleagues a message of thanks via Twitter.

But there were still questions to be answered about how Amri had travelled across Europe so easily.

Milan police chief Antonio De Iesu said: “Without doubt this man was very dangerous. He was walking around with a loaded gun and ready to use it as we have seen.

“He was like a ghost. He didn’t have a telephone on him and in his rucksack was shampoo, a few hundred euros and a small knife.

“It’s possible he could have been planning other attacks, at this stage we don’t know.”