Israeli Woman Missing in Berlin Market Terror Attack — Husband Injured
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BERLIN – An Israeli tourist is among the injured in Monday’s terror attack in the center of the German capital.
Twelve people were killed on Monday evening when a truck plowed into a Christmas market near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. At least 48 people were seriously injured.
The injured Israeli tourist was in the market with his wife, who is still missing, Elio Adler, a family friend in Berlin, told JTA. The husband was located in a Berlin hospital, where he is currently undergoing emergency surgery. The wife has not yet been located.
A memorial service has been planned by Chabad in Berlin, for Wednesday evening.
Chabad Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, a rabbi in Berlin’s official Jewish community, told JTA that he had been to the scene of the attack on Monday night with colleague Rabbi Shmuel Segal to see if they could help. Teichtal told JTA that plans for the annual public menorah lighting ceremony at Berlin’s famous landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, would go ahead as planned, albeit with higher security.
Teichtal said he hoped that “more people than ever” would come to the event. “We have to have zero tolerance for terrorism and at the same time reach our hands out.”
According to local news reports, the Polish driver of the truck was shot and killed. Police arrested one suspect after he tried to flee on foot. He reportedly came to Germany from Pakistan more than a year ago.
The truck was driven about 80 meters through the Christmas market, which was filled with holiday shoppers. Berlin police said they believe the incident was not an accident.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany in a statement called the attack “disgusting” and added: “Our thoughts and actions must not be overcome by fear and terror…May the messages of our two holidays give us strength in these difficult hours.”
“We are deeply shocked. Especially in the pre-Christmas period, when our society focuses on values like charity, goodness and peace, our country was once again hit by this disgusting attack,” the group’s statement attributed to President Josef Schuster said.
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