i think. the don't. tell isn't because of. the famous potato. this is deja vu news live from berlin germany remembers a night of terror one year ago a failed asylum seeker drove a truck into a berlin christmas market killing twelve people and injuring dozens has enough been done since then to help those devastated by that attack. and we are seeing here

live pictures from the site where the victims' relatives and survivors are gathering to remember that a christmas market or the attack occurred just steps away a tribute to the victims will be unveiled just moments from now. i'm sumi so most kind of thank you for joining us it was the first major islamist attack in germany one year ago today twelve people were killed and seventy were injured when honest a tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected hijacked a truck and plowed into a christmas market in one of berlin's busiest public spaces among the dead victims from the czech republic ukraine poland italy and israel along with seven germans the injured included citizens of fifty five different nations in the coming minutes a memorial for the victims is due to be unveiled at the site of the attack. and we

do have some live pictures here of this is the site of the christmas market attack that did take place a year ago and this is where the memorial will be unveiled to the twelve victims twelve cement steps with the names of each person killed and their country of origin that is what the memorial will be revealed later today or in just a few moments rather with a chancellor merkel on hand for the ceremony and german president. is on hand while he's been giving us beach in that church you see right there the kaiser vilhelm memorial church just behind us. and let's go to. platts he has been following all of this for us today all of our get to see you tell us more about the commemoration ceremony that's just about to start. well there's a whole lot of commemoration events taking place here tonight the whole area by the

way is cordoned off and turned into a high security zone the christmas market you can see the stalls here behind me there are closed obviously today to give some privacy to the relatives of the victims that are just gathering here to unveil the aeration side here together with the german chancellor. as you mentioned the german president just delivered a speech right in the church did you can see behind me and then later just some moments from now all the major commemoration side will be unveiled in addition to that there is a nod to or also to commemorate the victims a crack in the sidewalk and that artwork is supposed to symbolize the crack in society and then later relatives who were poor liquid gold into the crack in order to symbolically close that crack in society so there's a lot of this a lot of symbolism here today all in all to on are the victims but also the

relatives of the victims who. felt not treated well in the aftermath of the attack however you mentioned that this area cordoned off today for this commemoration ceremony but in general the christmas market has returned to the square where you are what have people there been telling you. well not only here but through old the whole city of berlin christmas markets have reopened and they are busy as always doing their year during the during this time of the year in particular when people come here and have a glass of wine or their barbecued sausage as it is the german tradition in the run up to christmas now if you speak to people you would hear the same you know the same reactions that we've seen and witnessed after many of the terror attacks rolled europe's in recent europe in recent years which is that people want to show some kind of defiance also that they want to carry on with their routines their traditions and not to give in to terrorism and exactly this is taking place here in

berlin as well if you speak to the vendors you would get a very similar kind of picture people reopen their stalls although they have been there witnesses or even injured in victims off that attack i was even able to speak to the only endured injured vendor here his his his stall was actually taken down by the truck and he spent several months in hospital and in spite of the spec at the christmas market he is selling mulled wine exactly as he's been doing so for the last twenty years. at the site of the terrorist attack as the ceremony starts will be coming back to you to speak to you. and we have data security correspondent thomas bear with us here in studio thomas will be looking at that ceremony live in just a few moments when it takes place of the chancellor and the german president in the church at the moment where a speech is being held also for the victims of the attack but as all of us said the

big story this week leading up to this one year commemoration has been the criticism of the chancellor and her government for not doing enough or not handling the situation well enough also from the side of the families of the victims why wasn't more done they sent an open letter to chancellor and give them a call in which they very strongly criticised her reaction after the attack the policies of the government speaking of political inaction saying that the condolences came too late as a reaction to that the government has announced a series of possible measures among them probably centers to try and help the victims when something like that happens more financial assistance those are all policies and proposals that have been discussed in recent days and america also visited the site of the attack a few days ago and she met some of the relatives of the victims yesterday at the chancellery something that the victims the red troops had been mentioning that they

wanted that to happen well to one year for under a miracle to do so when you ask why these things happened why the reaction probably came so late i would say that from the merkel these types of emotional reactions have always been very difficult not only in this case but in other cases as well and that's probably why probably she focused more on the on the political consequences of this and what the government and other authorities have to try and prevent these attacks from happening or at least the mistakes that were committed in the lead up to the to the attack and only after some time decided thought that it was the correct decision to try and have that emotional reaction that probably was so important for the victims and their relatives as you've been speaking thomas we've been looking at live pictures. here of a white roses that had plots where this attack took place a year ago and that artwork that all over mentioned earlier this crack this forty meter long crack that symbolizes the divided society and the attempts to you know

heal that divide how has germany changed since this attack i would say germany has changed quite a lot before that attack that was as you yourself mentioned the beginning of the of the show the one of the biggest attacks it is the most attacks in germany if not the biggest as it was described at the time but before that many germans had the impression that they were sort of exception germany had been spared of major is the most attacks in comparison to other european countries or something that was even discussed wide here why was germany spade when you had attacks for example in belgium or in or in france after the attack it became very evident for germans that they were no longer an exception that this could also happen in germany on the german he also had to react to these types of threats and since then if you speak to a lot of people they just say it's a matter of time before another attack happens in germany and that's where the country and society particularly have to prepare themselves for such an event

thomas as you've been speaking it looks like the ceremony is just getting under way we see their current back he is the special commissioner that has been appointed to address the families of the victims and their needs it's something that happened as you said as criticism there months after the attack last december for our viewers who are joining us we're watching germany marking one year since the truck attack on the christmas market left twelve people dead and dozens more injured chancellor angela merkel is on hand for this ceremony as you see her there just arriving to honor the victims now there's a memorial thomas that's going to be unveiled to tell us more about the significance of this dissension in the as you said it's a crack and it essentially shows the crack if you will that happen in germany. in society after the attack it's supposed to also symbolize the wounds not only of those affected but the ones that the germany in general has had since the attack let's just watch and listen for a little bit it appears that chance americal and the other dictatorial have candles

there. here is part of the memorial the twelve steps with the names of the victims and for viewers who are joining us that is their chance of america both there from her party as well the mayor of miller as they honor the victims of this attack and sumi this is also important because it happens at the kaiser wilhelm memorial church which in itself is a writ is already a place of a lot of symbolism in germany after the war it's a place that's true but also commemorates the peace resilience of the people in berlin and in germany and the fact that now we have another memorial here one with

the names engraved with that crack that we see there it's incredibly important for berlin it's very important for germany also in a way as the country tries to heal after the attack on december nineteenth two thousand and sixteen a dates that i think many in the country won't forget. clearly various somber moments here thomas not only the names as you mentioned but to the countries of the victims that they hailed from germany ukraine italy the czech republic poland israel. really an attack that reverberated around the world and this just shows how big a challenge this is not only for germany but i would say or for europe or in many countries around the world we're talking here about international terrorism we're talking here about a child in the house to be addressed forward to ease hand in hand not only by one

countries but by many countries together not only the victims as you say come from many countries also be the talk of a somber spends time in many countries as well so this just shows it's not only an important challenge for germany it's an important challenge for europe as a whole. if you're just joining us this is a germany's commemoration ceremony a year after the country's first major islamist attack twelve people killed when a failed asylum seeker in the summer drove a truck into a christmas market right at this site killing twelve people injuring dozens during dozens more and it also happened that's one of germany's most important traditions that christmas markets open i know and all around the world so it just shows also how how devastating that was in germany a year ago how many wins a still there one year after how many problems have to be sold this was something

that really shocked many germans and many people as well who have come to germany as tourists and have seen how important these christmas markets are in germany's traditional. christmas mood. we see a berlin's mayor there there is that he will be making some remarks. this is something that a change the city of berlin as well tongs indeed changes it to a budget and that's something that probably will address any minute now. the chancellor of america and the mayor surrounded by the families loved ones of the victims. who have expressed a lot of pain thomas in the last few days they feel their voices have not been heard chancer meeting with them yesterday she said she's not emotional chancellor

but perhaps an important symbolic gesture and that's also why she's there at the memorial today that's why she wanted to be there also also to show probably that all side of her which is an emotional side that you don't see very often. you see flowers events of cardinals there those are the steps where the names of those killed have been engraved i mean that barely a dozen people from around the world will be able to see when they visit ties of it have a moral church which is also one of the city's most important symbols in the western part of the city. along a very busy thoroughfare and let's listen in to help once ojt i'm. not the one year and it's the untrusted that annoyance in terrible attack on the nineteenth of december we have met once again here i'm getting light shined plots to commemorate

the victims of this attack and to grieve for one with you the believed. with the survivors of this attack we think it was the attackers from out slips from his took people away from our lives that we missed terribly you mention and this is attack hit everyone this is attack of humanity is hit with peace which is the fundament of our life in peace to the audience we are gathered here in silence today to commemorate those who were the victims of this attack on all of humanity. today we take a moment. to get them to remember them a moment of silence spreads out here in berlin and many other billionaires around thinking of those who were killed in the attack and their relations they are here

commemorating those who died and those who were injured and the believed relatives . many of us remember this attack all too clearly it was a tragedy particularly for the relatives for those who died. those who were injured as well as the police force and the ambulance services and the fire brigade i want to thank them at this point for their courage and i was impressed as well by the berlin population who were not only. frightened by this attack and who showed then and now that they continue to wish to live in freedom and will do so ladies and gentlemen the loss is still painful and that so wounds are still open we will.

remember the night of the nineteenth of december twenty sixth in the people and we have lost. we still missed so much i have spoken to many believed relatives about what this loss means for each and every one of them. the survivors of this attack and the friends and family who have lost people still have deep wounds. about physical wounds but also mental wounds and they will never go away completely the scars will remain the terrorist attack of nine hundred the december twenty sixth. left its mark on people in berlin and beyond. and to commemorate this we want to show you that we will always remember this attack by creating

a. memorial plaque this is a place that everyone who you wish is to grieve so. that to have a place to come to commemorate all those when we can and are killed here. and i get the see that we have the names of all of those who died you feel here and. it is a signal that we are sending out across all religious and national boundaries as well and this gash here commemorates wounds that the attacks have called caused but we want to overcome this wound in our society we do not want to be divided by terrorism and hatred and this is why i am normally a plaque is also a symbol of teller and tolerance of fun we owe that to the victims not just in berlin but across the globe so i can view these letters shown on stories terrorists

what makes us stronger than the namely our ability to live peacefully with others and to retain that of good in each and every one of us that it was missing for them here now and humaneness and of faith in the future. that we will show them that they would have did not emerge victorious they did not as divided as such as them we have joined even what closely together as a result of his attack and ladies and gentlemen i want to remind you that right and she just came for your side she could. who gives his name to this. country was a fighter for democracy he did not bow down to the nazi terrorism you fought his whole life long for democracy and freedom and at the end of the day he emerged victorious and the murderers you can conquer and we are your heroes and in the same spirit we now have a memorial plaque over those who died here but it's also

a symbol of humanity for tolerance and democracy bereaved relatives and marks and survivors of the attack. and people who suffer from terrorist attacks across the globe i wish that we all remain strong and we need to remain resilient and alert and vigilant but we must not give space for hatred and. we grieve. for those who have been killed and we share your pain. with berlin's mayor michelle miller speaking as a city in the country honor the victims of the terror attack that us struck right at the square plus in the heart of berlin exactly one year ago today miller saying

that this was an attack on humanity. and we see the president of the going to stop off there and transform america as they prepare what appears to be candles. indeed a very moving moment for everyone here in germany for everyone who experienced about attack a year ago also very moving words by the mayor of overburden stressing that focus on the victims on those who were affected a year ago. see the chance of their laying her candle on the side of this memorial.

you can see the names there of those who were killed names engraved right in front of the church the kaiser very morial church something which is also extremely symbolic here in berlin. one of the city's most important mourning and one that will now also have the names of those killed by the attack a year ago you can see the pictures there of some of the flowers candles it's a ceremony that really wants to put the focus on the victims of that attack a focus for the last few months has been on the every political situation on the security situation on the problems faced by security officials today the focus is on the victims themselves on the relatives i don't that pain that many people in

germany have felt all these after the attack on december nineteenth two thousand and sixteen again a day that i think in germany many will not forget. and we see here thomas so the relatives themselves who have gathered here for this ceremony themselves candles at the site of the steps of their loved ones important for them to have a permanent memorial until now we have to say there were candles and flowers that had been placed at the spot but no permanent memorial that's correct every time you went to the place where the attack happened you could see those day you could say you could see also messages that people had left from different parts of the world but obviously as you say that was not a public memorial the idea now is to have a permanent memorial place not only for the people but also for the people around the world who who were moved also by what happened here in germany a year ago. you just saw there thomas thing credible emotion from the victims'

families and loved ones here also politicians cabinet members ministers obviously as you said also the president of the german parliament the german federal president of the chancellor so basically every important politician also present there showing their respects and also expressing. deep sorrow in the water on the pain that they felt for the attack but also stressing. that that's something that germany has to learn that terrorist attacks will not divide the country and germany will certainly be much more from the from what happened and hopefully also the society will learn from what from what happened to your records well and try to heal those those wounds that in many cases still open. we see thomas in the very back there the president of germany we just saw from the back of the screen from kazakhstan my who was speaking in the church. memorial church as

you said just before this ceremony began also the interior minister thomas defense here is on hand. there are a series of events today to mark that attack year ago we were seeing right now the. immoral which is being unveiled or the ceremony the president participated in so a series of we've been sworn year after the attack that killed twelve and wounded dozens that just said it would get around seventy people from many different nationalities. we should say again thomas a very somber moment and for many of the families what they said that they needed and who had been missing a moment to mourn publicly in front of the nation for the families this is extremely important they have sent an open letter to angela merkel to the

government precisely stressing that this was something that a they had expected to especially from the german chancellor a show of respect which for them came too late but also criticizing the political reaction from the government criticizing also the political mistakes that also did not prevent this attack from happening although thought is clearly knew that this. person involved the attack i mean sabri could indeed or was at least planning something like that. but again today the focus is not necessarily on the mistakes that were made a were not made today the focus is on the victims and the relatives of the victims and that's something that politicians would want to clearly state the focus today is on the wounds that in many cases have not yet healed. those wounds thomas you mentioned very important to the mayor himself saying that there

are deep wounds in the society and in fact the piece of artwork that you can see just at this moment is supposed to symbolize that this fissure this crack. exactly a crack. which is for to symbolize that division and yet at the same time you hear more distressing that germany cannot or should not be divided by what happened a year ago so you know way it's obviously there to commemorate what happened but it's also a lesson that i think germans want to take from that that even when such an attack happens the country should not be divided by that or should instead try and work together to try to heal the wounds and to try to heal those those cracks as the monument itself reveals as that money monument that the art piece there surrounded by the white roses and as you said thomas michel really saying this is a symbol of tolerance and perhaps an important commentary in what has been an eventful year in germany since this attack has been deeded eventful year in germany

since the attack again a lot of political blame game a lot of political consequences being drawn in fact some of the consequences you can also see right there at the christmas markets when you go and visit them and now you have to go through those concrete go past those concrete barriers that have been put in place or you have to obviously deal with them much more much more present police presence for example that's also something that you can clearly see if you go today to christmas markets a much more visible police presence or video surveillance so those are all measures that's a very present also for germans when they go to the christmas market which again is one of the most important traditions leading up to christmas here in germany in fact a tradition that is well known around the world. for our viewers just joining us germany is marking one year since the attack on this space base here this the

christmas market it left twelve people dead and dozens more injured the victims came from germany the czech republic ukraine italy poland israel today germany is honoring them and the families of those victims chants chancellor merkel the german president alter steinmeyer as well several dignitaries the berlin mayor own hand. to pay tribute. and. has been following this for us there. the christmas market attack all over tell us more about this very somber. well first of all this this area is completely cordoned off today as you can see the christmas market is closed in order to guarantee security but also some privacy for the victims that are gathering right now at the commemoration side. there are

many people you know coming here watching what's happening and trying to get to trying to get a look on what's happening here some single protesters also criticizing the government and just the victims have done so in an open letter of the thomas just mentioned in the studio who were very much on happy with how the government dealt with india with the with the attack in the aftermath but right now the mood is is a sad one and everything is focusing on the grief and giving some comfort. to the victims to the relatives of the victims and that's exactly what we heard there in the speech of mayor miller who just delivered a very emotional speech thanking all sold the citizens here of berlin for their defiance that they've been showing in the run up to this event here and after the attack and. looking still at pictures here of this memorial of the steps covered in white rose.