this is bbc news. the headlines: the german chancellor, angela merkel, says those in responsible for an attack on a christmas market in berlin will be punished as harshly as the law allows. in a televised address, mrs merkel said it would be "particularly sickening" if the attacker was —— particularly difficult to bear —— particularly difficult to hear if the attacker was proved to be a refugee. investigators say the truck was deliberately steered into the market where it crashed through wooden huts filled with christmas shoppers i saw people on the ground, bodies on top of each other. a man thought to be the lorry driver is being questioned. in the other main news, moscow sent investigators to turkey after days

of duty policeman assassinated the russian ambassador. he had been seen in the background as ambassador ka rlov in the background as ambassador karlov addressed a meeting in ankara, and shouted about syria as he fired. in moscow, gps are paid. —— tributes paid. good morning. german police say a lorry that smashed into a christmas market in berlin, killing 12 people, was deliberately steered into the crowds. another 48 people were injured. a suspect, reported to be a 23—year—old pakistani man who arrived in the last year, is being interrogated. the german chancellor angela merkel says she's shocked and deeply saddened by the attack. it happened at around 8:15pm local

time last night in the heart of the west of the city, when the market was packed. witnesses say the vehicle ploughed into the square without slowing down. it happened near the popular tourist sight of the kaiser wilhelm memorial church, berlin zoo and one of the city's main shopping streets. reports are being investigated that the truck was stolen from a building sight in poland. under the lights of one of berlin's biggest christmas markets, investigators examine the lorry that has caused so much death and destruction. it was loaded with steel beams when it turned off the road and smashed into the crowds. rhys meredith was visiting with his girlfriend. he is from cardiff. we heard it knocking down the stalls at an amazing rate of knots. there were no skidding wheels, no attempt to try and slow down, despite him veering out of the market. translation: i was standing

at the entrance and i heard a loud noise and was knocked down by a collapsed market stand. translation: i was standing at the entrance and i heard a loud noise and was knocked down by a collapsed market stand. it knocked me flat to the ground. only later did i realise there were many people on the ground who did not move anymore. the driver of the lorry then fled on foot, but was captured shortly afterwards. reports claim he is an asylum seeker from either afghanistan or pakistan who had arrived in germany in february. the vehicle had come from poland, and police say a polish citizen was found dead in the passenger seat. the lorry‘s owner says his driver could not have been responsible. translation: the person who was driving and jumped out of the truck was not my driver. i would do anything for my driver.

they did something to him, and hijacked his truck. the one who drove is not my driver. 48 people were injured. some are in a critical condition. it is terrible to witness this. i hoped we would not experience something like this in berlin. police on the ground are doing everything they can, they are working with fire crews and hospitals and making sure the injured are being taken care of. the situation is under control, now the experts have to do their work, and hopefully we can determine what has happened here tonight. the scenes are a reminder of the lorry attack on bastille day crowds in the french city of nice injuly, when 86 people were killed. the so called islamic state claim responsibility. —— claimed

responsibility. authorities say there is no indication of any further threats in berlin. but the german government has said the evidence so far points to this being a deliberate attack. this man witnessed the attack in the city yesterday evening. he described what he saw. it was 6:30pm and we decided to go to the christmas market. we met and were having a chat. there was an american, someone from holland, germany, and elsewhere. it was around 8pm and we heard a noise like one of the christmas market stalls had fallen down. i was on the steps and the truck came past. it was flying with full speed into the market and the

market was divided with the christmas hurts on either side. —— the wooden huts on either side. it went into all these innocent people. what went through your mind as you saw that? were you in any doubt as to what was happening?” saw that? were you in any doubt as to what was happening? i can actually show you from my apartment. from my house it is a two minutes' drive and this is one of the busiest streets. what was in my mind? you can't think of anything. you are shocked. people were asking for help and there were wooden planks on top

of them but i could not help them. describe what you saw when he went down and saw at closer quarters. describe what you saw when he went down and saw at closer quarterslj saw people lying on the ground, bodies twisted, arms, legs... people we re bodies twisted, arms, legs... people were on top of each other. we tried to move the wooden huts away from the people. the police were there in six minutes, literally really quick. the whole area was cleared. you were there immediately when this happened. how were people reacting

around you ? happened. how were people reacting around you? they were screaming. people were shocked. people just wa nted people were shocked. people just wanted to help. in that moment you cannot just wanted to help. in that moment you cannotjust think wanted to help. in that moment you cannot just think that maybe something could explode here, organs be used. you don't think of those things. you just want to help those people. —— or guns be used. i hope no one can experience such a thing like this. did you see the driver of the truck? i did not see the driver. but you cannot go really fast because it is a turning point because the kaiser wilhelm memorial church is there, so you cannot go

straight. you need to make a u—turn but the truck was... i saw that it was making full speed. luckily, it just made... it hit an electrical post or something. and that is what all the truck to a stop, then? it smashed into some think. yes. and there was not much to do. here, scotland yard have responded to the attack in berlin saying the metropolitan police have detailed plans in place for protecting public events over the christmas period. in

a statement, they said: chris phillips is the former head of the uk anti—terrorist office. well, it is very difficult once a person is in a truck and a very large truck, and that person is intent on killing people, it is very difficult to stop that. what you then have to do is to reduce the number of casualties. so as an example, 15 years ago in the uk, we started working on protecting our crowded places from these types of attacks, but of course, if you have got a truck and you've got someone with a malicious intent it is very difficult to prevent any loss of life. let's bring in our security can sponge and —— correspondent. this is

reminiscent of what we saw in nice over the summer. it is difficult to protect members of the public from such attacks. yes, the assumption is it is an attack. it illustrates the coming together of two methodologies from terrorists that we have seen over sometime. a motive target, the gathering together of people in one place. secondly, the use of vehicles to do this, as we saw in nice on bastille day. it is difficult for the authorities to plan against this. there has been this work in protecting crowded places, including buildings. in the past the concern was car bombs, the fear of someone

driving a car with a bomb into a building. you often see barnard is in place to prevent cars getting through. it is harder to protect people on the streets especially if these streets cannot be closed off. if you have a truck, it is even harder to stop that because it can get through some of the obstacles. we heard from scotland yard they are reviewing their precautions. they will be looking at this. there have been a few precautions put in place and we have seen police guards in some places. it is particularly difficult to try to stop this kind of attack unless you secure the perimeter very tightly something like a christmas market, which can be had when it is temporary. and few opportunities for security sources

to be able to intervene and intercept intelligence when something like this is being planned. it is a much simpler prospect then having to get together everything that would be needed for something like making a bomb. yes, ten yea rs something like making a bomb. yes, ten years ago more complex lots were expected. all of that offered opportunities for the security services to spot them, to see that pattern. people travelling, gathering materials. but if somebody by themselves, without communicating with somebody else, which can be intercepted, perhaps decides to carry out an attack like this, perhaps having been inspired rather than being in contact with someone like islamic state, they mayjust get the truck on the day and carry out the attack so there is a very small window for security services to be able to intervene and stop but

onceit to be able to intervene and stop but once it is moving and in place. far fewer points at which they can spot it and understand it. they can look for people at risk of radicalisation and violence. that is hard and has proved ha rd and violence. that is hard and has proved hard and sometimes it is hard to see the indicators. sometimes they can radicalise fast but that is one of the big challenges for the security services in britain and europe. leaders from around the world have been reacting to events in berlin on social media. this is angela merkel‘s spokesman steffen seibert. the british foreign secretary borisjohnson said... the french president francois hollande said... and the us president—elect donald trump listed a number of incidents

which took place in europe and beyond, saying the "civilized in the last hour, the german chancellor, angela merkel, made this statement. translation mac ladies and gentlemen, this is a very difficult day. i am like many people in germany, shocked, devastated and deeply saddened by what happened in berlin yesterday, in breitscheidplatz. i2 berlin yesterday, in breitscheidplatz. 12 people who like the rest of us were looking forward to christmas and had plans for the holidays are no longer with us. and incomprehensible act has taken their lives. more than a0 years are injured and fighting for their lives oi’ injured and fighting for their lives or health. my thoughts at this time oui’ or health. my thoughts at this time our festival with these people, or health. my thoughts at this time ourfestival with these people, with the dead and injured, with their families, relatives and friends. i'd like you to know that we all, the

all -- like you to know that we all, the all —— whole country, are united with you in sorrow. we are hoping and praying that you can carry on living after this horrific attack. angela merkel. and we have continuing coverage of the attack the christmas market in berlin here on bbc news. you can also stay up to date with the latest developments online on the bbc news website. we arejust we are just hearing that the queen is going to be stepping down as patron from a number of national organisations at the end of her 90th birthday year. buckingham palace have just put out that statement, saying that the patron ages will be passed on to other members of the royal family. no further detail on which patronages they will be all who they will be in particular taking them on, but we will get more detailfrom our royal taking them on, but we will get more

detail from our royal correspondent. more on that news that the queen will be stepping down as patron from a number of national organisations at the end of her 90th birthday year. russia has sent a team to turkey to investigate the assassination of its ambassador there. andrei karlov was shot several times in the back and head, shouting, don't forget aleppo, and revenge. turkey has described it as a file and —based crime. earlier i asked our correspondent about the meeting being held between the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov and his turkish counterpart. we have just seen the initial encounter between the turkish and russian foreign minister is here in moscow where they laid flowers in front of a photograph of andrei ka rlov, front of a photograph of andrei karlov, the diplomat, the ambassador shot yesterday in ankara. the

turkish foreign minister described what happened as a vile and —based crime. and he vowed that he would do everything possible to find those responsible. russia has sent investigators. they have already landed in ankara to work alongside the turks. russia also saying they wa nt to the turks. russia also saying they want to find out who was responsible. president putin said this was an act of provocation, trying to tell russia and turkey apart in their efforts to you work together to end the conflict in syria. —— to tell them apart. he says he will strengthen his fight against terror in response and the bandits, as he said, will fill this themselves. so strong from vladimir putin and words of condemnation from the turkish foreign mission the —— minister. earlier, our correspondent gave us

an update on the investigation team that has travelled from russia to ankara. this is the first time that a foreign ambassador has been killed in turkey's modern history. this is the first time an ambassador, and the first time an ambassador, and the russian ambassador has lost his life in our attack. turkey is taking this very seriously. the mood is sombre and everyone in the official circles is condemning what has happened. there are strong state m e nts happened. there are strong statements being made from the authorities. russian investigators have arrived in ankara. there are 18 of them, including forensic specialists. they will take part in the conference of investigation that turkey has pledged to carry out. this would be a joint investigation, and then the ambassador‘s body will be taken to moscow to be buried there. the mood in turkey, as i

said, is frustration, because this is an embarrassing moment the turkey, considering the assassination took place in the heart of ankara, in supposedly a place where security should be very high. this 22—year—old gunmen was able to enter an exhibition hall, showing his police id, as he was a police officer. he claimed he was there, assigned to protect the ambassador, but in fact, the reality proved to be the opposite. so this is an embarrassing situation. this is an embarrassing situation. this is going to be regarded as a serious security failure on turkey's side and there will be questions asked. looking at this statement is coming from both ankara and moscow at this moment at least, we don't see that there will be any repercussions at this stage because both putin and

erdogan and their governments are saying they want to keep relations as they are at the moment because both countries had suffered from the deteriorating relations in the last year. there were economic sanctions against turkey, russian tourists went coming in, and after the downing of the russianjet went coming in, and after the downing of the russian jet relations we re downing of the russian jet relations were at a terrible state for both sides. now at last boats countries —— both countries have managed to warm relations and it is known that the russian ambassador, karlov, played a significant part in repairing those relationships. scotland's first minister, nicola sturgeon, has unveiled proposals for protecting, as she puts it, scotland's place in europe, when the uk leads the european union. she said it would benefit all of the uk. the paper sets out the ways in which

scotland's place in the single market can be rejected. it has three strands. first we propose that the uk as strands. first we propose that the ukasa strands. first we propose that the uk as a whole should stay in the single market by remaining a party to the european economic area agreement, and that it should also stay in the customs union. membership of the eu and of the single market are two distinct propositions as our... i accept that there is a mandate in england and wales to take the uk out of the eu, however i do not accept there is a mandate to take any part of the uk ad of the single market. it would make no economic sense whatsoever for the uk to leave the single market, and it would be entirely democratically justifiable for the uk to remain within it. so the scottish treatment will continue to argue and build common cause with others of like mind for continued uk membership of the single market.

however, albeit reluctantly, i acce pt however, albeit reluctantly, i accept that as things stand, given the rhetoric of the conservative government, at this stage that seems an unlikely outcome. we can hear live now from nicola sturgeon. she is answering questions in edinburgh. asl in edinburgh. as i said on the 24th ofjune, it has changed in that respect... michael. isn't it slightly unrealistic to expect theresa may to go along to the negotiations and say, this is what the uk once. and while i'm here, this is a different arrangement that scotland wants? you are not going to get a deal. you will not get countries like spain, surely, with separatist robbins is their to accepted. i take a different view to that. i am taking this as reasonably as i can. scotland voted overwhelmingly to

stay in the european union, so it is not a problem of our making. we don't like it but we recognise that everything associated with brexit is difficult, complicated... many people would say that what the uk is asking for is unrealistic. scotland has been told repeatedly, it was a very forcibly in the independence referendum two years ago, that the uk is referendum two years ago, that the ukisa referendum two years ago, that the uk is a partnership of equals. england, wales, northern ireland and scotland are equal partners in the united kingdom. items include making the point that if that is to mean something in reality as opposed to just in rhetoric, surely there must bea just in rhetoric, surely there must be a willingness to find a way that is effectively squares the circle of the different outcomes in different parts of the uk. it will not be easy and i'm very openly admitting to the challenges around this, but if there is political will to turn that partnership of equals rhetoric into reality, i believe there is a way to ove i’co [ti e reality, i believe there is a way to overcome all of these challenges.

this is principally a document aimed at the uk government. if they accept to make it part of his negotiation, yes, the next stage will be to convince other european countries of this. i do not underestimate the challenges, but what i do know it, andl challenges, but what i do know it, and i have experienced a lot of this first hand in the last six months, is how much goodwill there is to wards scotland at how much recognition there is that scotland asa recognition there is that scotland as a country wants to continue to play our part in the european family of nations, sol play our part in the european family of nations, so i believe this is achievable, not without challenges, but everything about brexit is challenging. this is about finding a sensible way through. it has been said... surely, in effect, at the very least, they will need to be a trading border between scotland and england. no. this is not a

criticism. i appreciate you have onlyjust had this document sol criticism. i appreciate you have onlyjust had this document so i am sure when you have read it in full you will be able to answer this question for yourself. the administrative arrangements that talks about is not about the border between scotland and england. there will be no external eu customs border between scotland and england. the administrative arrangements are a reference to the arrangements that regardless of this are required to be in place for the external uk border, all of it. put scotland to one side for a moment, if the uk is outside of the single market and outside of the single market and outside of the customs union, it will have to have this administrative arrangements at the external uk border to deal with goods coming in and out at the single market. if the differential option was to go ahead, there would require to be an addition to those administrative arrangements that

will already be in place, to make sure that as kids come into the uk from the single market or get from the uk to the single market, the correct tariffs or arrangements will be applied depending on which part of the uk they are originating in or which part of the uk they are being sold in. so that is the reference to image to the arrangements. it emphatically and absolutely does not apply to the border between scotland and england. paragraph 146 refers to the scottish government having new regulations. it has been described as totally impractical. it has been said that our manufacturing sector... if they wait to continue trading with the uk which is recognised as our largest market, it will make the process are that customers in the uk... lobont what

your fours were. i'm going to confidently predict that he will spend your entire day coming up with quotes of that nature from a whole range of different people. i have very candidly said there will be a range of practical challenges associated with this but many of those challenges are going to exist regardless of whether or not there isa regardless of whether or not there is a differential option for scotland, because these are the challenges and practical arrangements that will arise from the uk being out the single market and out of the customs union. what i am trying to do is not, with a perfect solution, continuing to be in the eu would be the best solution, but come up with a best way to do this that avoids the loss of drops, loss of living standards —— loss of drops, loss of living standards — — loss of of drops, loss of living standards —— loss of jobs, of drops, loss of living standards —— loss ofjobs, that comes with being outside the eu for the people of scotland. we will continue to have trading arrangements with the eu. the differences that will be

required between regulation for the re st of required between regulation for the rest of the uk and for scotland in the single market will actually probably be that great —— not be that great. so yes, there are practical challenges, but there are equally ways to overcome these if there is the political will to do so, and don't let's forget about the point of trying to overcome these political challenges is that the price of not doing so is lostjobs, lost investment, last living standards for people across scotland, and as first minister, i'm not prepared to let happen. most of you have made it clear you want the uk government to either endorse continued membership of the single market for the uk, continued membership of the single market forthe uk, oraccept continued membership of the single market for the uk, or accept these proposals by the time it triggers article 50. if not, will you decide then whether you want another independence referendum. and if not, how long do you have to decide... there is a bit of water to go under

the bridge from the uk government's side. we know the date of article 50 but we do not yet know whether it will be a more detailed proposition thanjust triggering will be a more detailed proposition than just triggering article 50. what we are saying in this paper will form part of that. this is not a criticism of anybody here but there is an absolute appetite to get me to the end of this process and say what i'm going to do then. what isaid say what i'm going to do then. what i said about independence on the 24th ofjune i said about independence on the 24th of june stands i said about independence on the 24th ofjune stands but i have put forward today series and reasonable proposals. i've asked for them to be considered, so i think it is only fair that considered, so i think it is only fairthatl considered, so i think it is only fair that i fulfil my side of the bargain and give the uk government time to do that before i immediately start talking about what i'm doing at the moment in the hypothetical scenario that they reject these proposals. i will try to work through this as i have done since the 24th of june, through this as i have done since the 24th ofjune, in a logical way that puts scotland at the top of my priorities. studio: nicola sturgeon, saying her

plans for protecting scotland's place in europe are a serious attempt to clarify a plan. she has published a paper proposing that the uk should remain in the european single market and the customs union, and also setting out how scotland could remain in the single market without the rest of the uk. we will have more continuing coverage of events in berlin after that attack ona events in berlin after that attack on a christmas market last night coming up shortly. first, the weather. recently, the weather has been very benign. at the run—up to christmas is looking severe, with spells of wind and rain as well as gales and severe gales. those gales will be starting across northern ireland and parts of scotland this afternoon. but for the majority of the country, a fine but for the majority of the country, afine and but for the majority of the country, a fine and dry day with a good deal of sunshine. a bit of rain across

wales and the south—west of england. a very different sort of day in the west of wales. gales or severe gales in scotland and northern ireland. then we look out towards the atla ntic then we look out towards the atlantic for thursday and friday. the second named storm of the season has come, storm barbra will be arriving, bringing heavy rain and potentially damaging gales. stay tuned to the weather forecast. it is likely to cause some impact, particularly this week, when a lot of people will be travelling. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines: german police are investigating a "probable terrorist attack" after a man ploughed a lorry into a christmas market in the heart of berlin, killing 12 people and injuring a8.

i saw people lying on the ground, you know, bodies being twisted, arms and legs. officers say the investigation into the attack is proceeding with speed and care. a man thought to be the lorry driver is being questioned. translation: this is a very difficult day. i am, like millions of people in germany, shocked, devastated and deeply saddened by what happened yesterday evening. let's get more now on the reaction to the attack in berlin with our correspondent, richard galpin. angela merkel says she is shocked and saddened by that attack. she also said it would be sickening if it turns out the attack was an asylu m it turns out the attack was an asylum seeker who sought refuge in germany. what is the reaction to what has been happening? that is one

of the key quotes from her speech. she obviously expressed her horror at the attack and send her condolences to the victims and their families. but that quote is key, because as we know, the issue of mass migration, refugees coming in huge numbers to germany over the past couple of years, has been a very big issue and it is playing very big issue and it is playing very politically now, with the growth of a right—wing nationalist party, the alternative for deutschland, which has been doing increasingly well in state elections, particularly over the past few months, pushing chancellor merkel‘s party to third place in one instance. so it is a key issue and this party, opinion polls are showing a growing and growing. next year, there will be federal parliament elections and chancellor merkel is going to run again. so in a way, what has happened is the worst—case scenario a way, what has happened is the worst—case scenario for her politically as well as in terms of the victims. how have the

politicians been speaking about it? not a huge amount so far with the exception of one interior minister from a regional government, who has blu ntly from a regional government, who has bluntly said that germany is now at war. this is obviously a huge statement by him. but this has been the worst attack germany has experienced in recent years. there was of course an attack earlier this yearin was of course an attack earlier this year ina was of course an attack earlier this year in a bavarian town in which i failed syrian asylum seeker blew himself up outside a music festival, in which 15 people were injured. so it is not the first incident of its kind. but in that case, they looked at the psychology of this man and he was suicidal and there were other psychiatric issues involved. but this has led to multiple deaths and is very serious. let's hear from the federal interior minister now. he is

about to speak to journalists. translation: he speaks in german. we are hoping to get a translation for this. he said earlier, whatever we can find out about the background of the perpetrators, we must not allow our free life to be taken away. translation:. allow our free life to be taken away. translation: . dot

allow our free life to be taken away. translation:. dot was steered into a crowd who were peacefully enjoying the evening in a christmas market. we are dealing with a brutal attack but the people in berlin had to go through last night. and millions in germany and beyond have to suffer this too. our thoughts in these hours are with the families of these hours are with the families of the victims. only a few victims have so the victims. only a few victims have so far been identified. and in the case of around 18 very seriously injured people, we are hoping that they can become well again. i am praying for that. for today, they can become well again. i am praying forthat. fortoday, i they can become well again. i am praying for that. for today, i have ordered all flags to be flown at

half—mast, and my colleagues have ordered the same. how long we will carry with that, we don't have to decide today. what we know about the attack so far is this. yesterday, around 2000 hrs, a lorry with a polish sign drove into the christmas market. after about 80 metres, it stopped. what we know from investigations so far, the driver fled the place of the attack. we now know there are 12 dead, a8 people injured, i8 know there are 12 dead, a8 people injured, 18 of those very seriously. among the dead is a male victim who was found in the lorry. what we know

so was found in the lorry. what we know so far, this person had an injury that was caused by a pistol. when the shot was fired is still subject to investigation. one person has been arrested after the attack by the police. so far, he has denied any involvement. the investigation is open and will be continued. the federal prosecutor has opened a criminal case and asked the federal criminal case and asked the federal criminal office with the investigations. details on the investigation, i can't tell you at this moment. the officials in berlin as well as the federal prosecutor

and the president of the federal criminal office will today give more details to the public. security measures have been altered to fit with the current circumstances. we have a plan as to how to react to this. it is about a police presence. but we also will have a close look at those we are already observing as potentially dangerous people. with other interior ministers of the federal states, we have agreed that eve ryo ne federal states, we have agreed that everyone will make changes as they see fit. first measures have already been taken in the federal states, and the federal police presence has been increased. federal police at

airports and stations have robust equipment, and there are reserves that we can bring into action if we need to. as difficult as it is considering yesterday's events, many of us, and me personally, there is one thing that is very important. we must not compromise our lifestyle, the way we want to live. we must not let people who want to destroy that way of life. if we do that, the enemies of freedom have already won. of course i understand every single person who is worried. who is

worried about living their life the way they have done so far with the same openness and freedom. but with full conviction, i can say, let us not step back. let our lives not be determined by fear. let stand together against the enemies of our society and stand upright. we are deeply saddened, but we also fight for our freedom. deeply saddened, but we also fight for ourfreedom. i think it is correct that because of respect for the victims and their families that today, the christmas markets in berlin will stay closed. but apart from this exception, i agree with my collea g u es from this exception, i agree with my colleagues in all the federal states that all the other christmas markets and all the other events of the season will continue. of course, we

will take additional security measures. there will be decisions made in each locality. but to simply stop would be wrong. despite the grief and shock that many people in oui’ grief and shock that many people in our country feel, there are some things that have encouraged me in this situation. in the hours and minutes after the attack, hundreds of thousands of families, partners, friends, relatives have been talking to each other by telephone to make sure the other person is ok. each of these calls, each of these messages has been a message of love and togetherness, of standing together.

my togetherness, of standing together. my wish is that we will remain to have this attitude of staying together, of living together in our country, especially in these difficult times. we stand together. translation: you spoke about an attack. studio: that is the federal interior minister, thomas de maiziere, bringing us up to date with the latest figures, 12 dead and a0 injured. he said only a few victims had been identified. he said of the injured, only 18 are very seriously injured and he's praying for them to get well. flags are being flown at half—mast across

germany today. he said no decisions need to be taken about when that .. —— when that will come to an end. he said, we must not compromise our lifestyle. we must not allow people to destroy our life or the enemies of freedom or they will have won. richard galpin is with me. a statement as we would expect, showing sympathy and empathy and talking about the need for people to try to carry on living lives as normal. yeah, and this echoes what chancellor merkel said in her statement. an appeal to the german people to stand strong now, to stand upright, to stand up and not let themselves become so frightened that

their lives become paralysed. it is significant that he is saying that although the christmas markets in berlin will be closed today, events across the country will continue as normal. so they will not be intimidated into shutting down all the celebrations at this important time in the run—up to christmas. the celebrations at this important time in the run-up to christmas. in terms of the security response and the monitoring of people who may give concern, he said that they are looking again at people already under surveillance. the issue in the spotlight arising from this now is the fact that it seems that it was potentially a migrant who was behind the wheel of the lorry. that's right. there are reports that a man

of potentially pakistani origin was at the wheel of the lorry, who a p pa re ntly at the wheel of the lorry, who apparently ran off. he managed to get two kilometres away, but was then caught by the police. apparently, according to some reports, the because an eyewitness who was there at the time but was not hurt actually followed him as he tried to escape. i can't confirm that, but there are reports that that, but there are reports that thatis that, but there are reports that that is what happened. that is as much as we know. the person who has been arrested is denying any involvement, as we havejust been arrested is denying any involvement, as we have just heard from the interior minister. there is a long way to go. the interior minister also said prosecutors have now opened a criminal case. we will of course keep you updated. and now we are going back to the interior minister, who is answering questions. translation: there are some political voices like those

from bavaria, who is making connections between the attack and refugee politics. is this legitimate? i will answer that question when we know more precise things about the investigation. about the drivers of the lorry. you spoke about someone who was possibly shot. apparently there is information from those who owned the lorry in poland. they said the polish driver had been stabbed several times. do you know how many people were on the lorry? you can ask these questions to the head of the federal criminal office. i know about a wound from a shooting. when

this happened, we don't yet know. i ask you to understand that the investigators are working under high pressure day and night. and it obviously takes time. and the information has to be correct. these investigations don't just take hours. we are looking at every angle of the investigation. you will probably hear about that later. it is not myjob to tell you about that. but the public can be assured that. but the public can be assured that the security services will not re st that the security services will not rest until complete clarity has been established about the background of this action. and i personally will

not rest until the attackers or the attacker have been found and punished. there have been different pieces of information about the security services' action at accommodation for refugees in templehof. what do you tell people who are now fearful about visiting christmas markets or any other kind of seasonal event? villa the first question should go to berlin officials. the second question, i have already said something about that. the christmas markets should not be closed. there may be christmas markets where there are

carousels, where i would say maybe these sort of amusements could maybe be thought about again, but i think it isa be thought about again, but i think it is a very nice thing to buy a christmas crib, for example, and thatis christmas crib, for example, and that is what christmas markets should remain open. i have already said that for people to take care of each other is important notjust in good times, but also in bad times. of course, the security services need the public to be attentive and to give information to the police. there is a numberthat to give information to the police. there is a number that has been publicised and there are already many pieces of information that have been given to police, similar to in boston. there, for example, a cloud was installed where people could

upload films from mobile phones etc that helped with the investigation of the background. minister, there are reports of a criminal past of the person who has been arrested. please put that question to the berlin officials? thank you very much for attending this press conference. good day. studio: that is the german interior minister, thomas de maiziere, talking about the latest on the investigation into the lorry attack in berlin. his message was one of not compromising. he said he understands that people will be afraid, but our lives must not be defined by fear.

the queen is to step down as patron from a number of national organisations at the end of her 90th birthday year, buckingham palace have announced. the announcement was made in the last hour. with me is our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. it isa it is a small amount, 5%. she is stepping down as patron of 25 of the 600 organisations of which she is patron. they range from large charities like save the children uk and the nspcc to smaller ones like the wildfowl and wetlands trust, battersea dogs home and the royal school of needlework. we will find that these will all be redistributed to other members of the royal family. for example, the rugby football union has already announced that harry is to become their patron. that is entirely expected. among the others that she is stepping back from wimbledon and the

lawn tennis association, where she has been notably not terribly interested in tennis throughout her reign. i should think we will have announcements from them in the next few days. the duchess of cambridge will perhaps take on tennis. the welsh rugby union, william might get that. the holocaust day memorial trust, i think prince charles might well ta ke trust, i think prince charles might well take that on. and she is also stepping back from barnardo's. the duchess of cornwall is already president of that, so i would think that camilla might become patron as well. it is a gradual lightening of the load, what palace officials might consider to be bringing her into a more appropriate workload for somebody who is 90 are just as the duke of edinburgh did when he reached 90. how much of a commitment are those patronage is actually?” think she has maintained an interest in all 600 throughout the many years that she has been patron of these

charities. clearly, when you have 600 organisations of which you are patron, there is only so much you can do, but they will all be keen to maintaina link can do, but they will all be keen to maintain a link with the royal family, as much so they can plan for the future and know who their patron is going forward that an announcement like this is made at this time. you said it isjust announcement like this is made at this time. you said it is just 596 announcement like this is made at this time. you said it isjust 596 of the patronage is, but answers the question, is it the start of a gradual pull—back? question, is it the start of a gradual pull-back? it is a continuation of what has already been a gradual lightening of the load. it was imperceptible until perhaps this year, when her officials reminded us of the fact that she is the age that she is and it is appropriate. but not stepping down. categorically not! significant changes to our weather,

starting today across scotland and northern ireland. the weather will be deteriorating, with gales and rain pushing in off the atlantic. for the bulk of the country, another decent day, with light winds and some sunshine, something we haven't seen for a while. it looks like parts of wales and the south—west of england will stay damp, with spits and spots of rain. a few showers pushing toward southern counties of england. elsewhere, you can see widespread sunny spells. different story further north and west. here, it is wet and windy for northern ireland and western scotland, although central and eastern scotla nd although central and eastern scotland will see some sunshine and hold the dry weather until after dark. wild weather for the evening commute across the north—west corner of the uk. the wind will be spreading southwards and eastwards, the band of heavy rain weakening as it pushes southwards and eastwards.

some of the showers will be wintry over the higher ground. the run—up to christmas is looking wild. it gets severe towards the end of the week, with maybe storm force winds as we head towards the christmas weekend. wednesday is a blustery day. strong winds for all of us. across the northern half of the country, feeling quite cold and blowing in lots of showers. hale and thunder mixed in and some decent lightning strikes. for england and wales, it is a wet day, but we will see some brightness across england and wales. looks like the rain will hold on across the south—east. central and southern areas are dry with sunshine. again, cold and windy across the north, with gales, sleet and snow showers. the met office

have now named this area of low pressure storm barbara, the second storm of the season. it will pack quite a punch, 60 to 70 mph gusts and 80 mph plus across the north of the uk. so there will be some disruption from this on friday, and there is the potential for another storm moving in on christmas eve. this is bbc news. the headlines: the german chancellor, angela merkel, says those behind an attack on a christmas market in berlin will be punished as harshly as the law allows, and responds to media reports that the suspect is a refugee. translation: it will be particularly

difficult for us all to bear if it is confirmed that the perpetrator had asked for protection and asylum in germany. investigators say the truck appears to have been intentionally driven into the market, killing 12 people and injuring a8. the german interior minister says a man has been arrested but has i saw people lying on the ground, bodies twisted, arms and legs, people on top of each other. the german interior minister says a man has been arrested but has so far denied any involvement.