i know breitscheidplatz very well, it isa know breitscheidplatz very well, it is a very huge place, andtween two very crowded streets. it is hardly possible to seal it off. you say you know this part of berlin well, most of us don't know it so well, most of us don't know it so well, can you give us an idea of how easy or difficult it might be to get a truck into the position where we can see at this evening? it's really easily done, you just have to take one of the big streets and simply turned the wheel to the right or to the left, and go through the christmas market. this was a really big truck. it obviously was a truck with steel loaded, so it was very heavy. this is one of the places to attack if you wanted many people. it is quite easy to do this. while you look at what is happening in berlin, and we also look at what happened in nice, although we don't know how close the parallels are, it is very difficult to know how to respond to these events, because as you have been describing, they are almost impossible to stop. it is almost impossible to stop. what you can do, where we have

there was a lorry driving at the breitscheidplatz., we when we verified that information, we ought immediately brought 550 police into action in various functions. they did what needed to be done to secure the place and start the investigation. we had a very large place that needed to be secured with a lot of people in it, and all of that happened without much of a hitch. we have already arrested one suspect. about the investigation itself, i can't say anything because the federal prosecutor has ta ken anything because the federal prosecutor has taken over. so i want to exclude that part at this press conference. but i am glad about the work of the media. we have had good experience for time now with social media and transparency. it was very important yesterday that calm and control pervaded and that misinformation did not escalate the situation. of course, there was that kind of thing, but overall, it stayed under control and that helped deal with the incident calmly and to avoid a wider panic. that is a good way to go forward. it w

now the breitscheidplatz market is back up and running. them, the atmosphere sombre and there is no music... while crowds are thinner, the atmosphere sombre and there is no music... it is a show from berliners of defiance, strength and not giving in as the investigation into what happened here continues. catriona renton, bbc news. while we have been on the air, there has been a statement from danish police saying a man matching the description of anis amri has been seenin description of anis amri has been seen in denmark. so that underlines the scale of the problem for the authorities and that the german authorities and that the german authorities simply do not know whether the man is still in germany oi’ whether the man is still in germany or elsewhere in europe. well, there isa or elsewhere in europe. well, there is a europe—wide hunt for the suspect. there are some reports today in germany, in a german newspaper, that investigators believe he could still even be here in berlin. there are some witness accou nts a ppa re ntly in berlin. t

reporter: visitors at the reopened christmas market in the breitscheidplatz wanted to send that signal. the market is not playing the usual music are putting on flashy displays, but news of his death did bring some relief. >> of course he is only one of many, but still a relief to know he is not re-anymore. -- free anymore. >> it would have been better to take him alive. it would have been dangerous. it is a relief to know he is not around anymore. >> i am a bit relieved the sadness is still there. what i see here weighs more heavily right now. reporter: remembering the 12 dead in monday's attack means it will not be a normal christmas in berlin. brian: there have also been a number of high-level talks today to discuss that, we are joined by our chief political correspondent linda crane. we understand angela merkel has spoken to her tunisian counterpart today on the phone, making it clear for government wants to speed up deportations of failed tunisian asylum-seekers. does she have the leverage to get that done? linda: they were listening last march when the interior minister of north

getting breitscheidplatz back up and running today was symbolic for berlin. >> we have to respond to terrorists that we don't care, we are going to open. we are not scared. it's exactly what they want. reporter: crowds were thinner than usual. they wanted to show they would not be cowed. i have come to show we must not hide, says rosemary. i'm very sad. i was here on monday. luckily i left before it happened. i feel anger and sadness, more anger. i did not know any of the victims, but it makes me really angry. not so much fear as defiance, then. berlin is determined to show they will not give up the things they value and enjoy. in damascus, bbc news, berlin. jane: furthermore, i spoke a formerime ago with a u.s. director of intelligence. thank you for joining me. it does seem that an awful lot was known by an awful lot of people, both foreign governments and by different intelligence agencies. could this information have been better shared, and would it have done anything to prevent this attack? >> certainly it could have been better shared, and it might have done something to preven

in germany, shocked, devastated and deeply saddened by what happened in berlin yesterday, in breitscheidplatz12 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 steppi

the breitscheidplatz christmas market was one of around 80 here in the german capital.closed as a sign of respect for the victims following monday's attack, but they have since reopened. security has been steppe up, but has the terror attack put visitors off? our reporter went to some of the more popular markets to see what the mood is like now. reporter: a christmas market in berlin, the air smells of roasting chestnuts and almonds as usual. visitors looked serene. >> you look so relaxed, do you feel that way? >> we just made a test -- toast of life. reporter: but the impact of monday's attack is certainly being felt in berlin's historical center. safety is on everyone's minds. the searching of bags and other security measures was already in place last year. now they have been stepped up >> . we will have additional support from the police who have a greater presence since yesterday, both plainclothes and uniform. i think we are in good shape. reporter: a few kilometers away, another christmas market at alexander plots. there is no security inspection. it is more usual

so, getting breitscheidplatz up and running today was symbolic for berlin. we don't care, we are going to open, we are not scared because it's exactly what they want. the crowds were thinner than usual, but wanted to show they wouldn't be cowed. "i've come to show we must not hide", says rosemary. "i'm very sad. i was here on monday, luckily i left before it happened." "i feel anger and sadness, more anger", says annika, "i didn't know any of the victims but it makes me really angry." not so much fear but defiance, then. berliners determined to show they won't give up the things they value and enjoy. live to berlin tonight and damian is there. tell us more in the progress in this investigation that has been reported today. well, huw, this is an important step forward, i think, the fingerprint evidence that now means that police think anis amri was driving that truck. the question is- was driving that truck. the question is — where did he go after the attack here? late this evening some newspapers here have published grainy photos taken in the hours after the

so getting breitscheidplatz back up and running today was symbolic for berlin.ond to the terrorism, that we don't care, we're going to open, we are not scared. because it's exactly what they want. the crowds were thinner than usual, but wanted to show they wouldn't be cowed. "i've come to show we must not hide", says rosemary. "i'm very sad. i was here on monday. luckily i left before it happened." "i feel anger and sadness, more anger", says annika. "i didn't know any of the victims, but it makes me really angry." not so much fear as defiance, then, berliners determined to show they won't give up the things they value and enjoy. donald trump, just a month from being sworn in as american president, has said the us must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability. he made the call, which would be a break with decades of american strategy, in a post on social media. hours before, vladimir putin said russia should "fortify hours before, vladimir putin said russia should fortify its military nuclear potential. mr trump's advisers insist he's warning of the

when the lorry drove at speed through the popular market at breitscheidplatz, near west berlin's main12 people were killed and around 50 injured, half of them seriously. 0ur correspondentjenny hill has the latest. first light this morning and the sheer violence of this attack dawns. the lorry crashed through the christmas crowds here, shattering everything, everyone in its path. this footage was taken in the immediate aftermath of the attack. bodies lie scattered under the twinkling lights. moments earlier, these people were eating, drinking, shopping, at one of berlin's most popular christmas markets. it's just amazing how a peaceful festive happy atmosphere just changed instantly and you have this scene of utter devastation. sara and rhys may never forget what they saw. obviously there was people lying on the floor. we weren't sure if it was red wine or if it was blood but we did see — i remember there were people trying to pick up the stalls, we decided to try to lift the stall up with them and we realised, you know, other people unfortunately underneath were already passed. the lo

so getting breitscheidplatz up and running today was symbolic for berlin.n't care, we're going to open, we are not scared. because it's exactly what they want. the crowds were thinner than usual, but wanted to show they wouldn't be cowed. "i've come to show we must not hide", says rosemary. "i'm very sad. i was here on monday. luckily i left before it happened." "i feel anger and sadness, more anger", says annika. "i didn't know any of the victims, but it makes me really angry." not so much fear as defiance, then, berliners determined to show they won't give up the things they value and enjoy. police in australia say they have foiled a terror attack in melbourne, which they believe may have been planned for christmas day. several people have been arrested after explosives were discovered during a series of overnight raids in the city's northern suburbs. it had the makings of an improvised explosive device. we believe that there was an intention to conduct what we call a multi— mode attack, possibly on christmas day, the possible locations that we've been wo

now the breitscheidplatz market is back up and running. is a show from berlin is of defiance, strength and not giving in as the investigation into what happened here continues. catriona renton, bbc news. preparing for your christmas getaway? expect a delay or two. this weekend sees major engineering works begin on lines in and out of london, manchester and cardiff. drivers are also likely to face tailbacks, as people head home for christmas. in contrast, airports across britain are experiencing the busiest festive travel getaway ever, with more of us planning to leave the country than ever before over christmas and new year. 0ur transport correspondent richard westcott has the details. it's one of the busiest lines in britain. a vital link between london, south—west england and south wales. but they're shutting this section near london tomorrow as part of the biggest rail upgrade programme ever taken on. 211,000 staff will work on 200 projects across britain, but why pick christmas? we have a huge programme of works that we have to deliver

so getting breitscheidplatz up and running today was symbolic for berlin.ond to the terrorism, that we don't care, we're going to open, we are not scared. because it's exactly what they want. the crowds were thinner than usual, but wanted to show they wouldn't be cowed. "i've come to show we must not hide", says rosemary. "i'm very sad. i was here on monday. luckily i left before it happened." "i feel anger and sadness, more anger", says annika, "i didn't know any of the victims, but it makes me really angry." not so much fear as defiance, then, berliners determined to show they won't give up the things they value and enjoy. donald trump, who will be sworn in as us president in a month's time, has called for america's nuclear weapons capability to be greatly strengthened and expanded. he made the call in another of his messages on social media. mr trump said expansion would be needed until the world came to its senses regarding nuclear weapons. his advisers said he was warning about the dangers of terrorist organisations and unstable regimes getting hold of

injured, half of them seriously, when the lorry drove at 40mph through the popular market at breitscheidplatz west berlin's main shopping streetjust after 8.00pm last night. this evening, angela merkel and other german political leaders have attended a memorial service at a church next to the market. here's our berlin correspondent, jenny hill with the latest. first light this morning and the sheer violence of this attack dawns. the lorry crashed through the christmas crowds here, shattering everything, everyone in its path. this footage was taken in the immediate aftermath of the attack. bodies lie scattered under the twinkling lights. moments earlier, these people were eating, drinking, shopping, at one of berlin's most popular christmas markets. it's amazing how a peaceful festive happy atmospherejust it's amazing how a peaceful festive happy atmosphere just changed insta ntly a nd happy atmosphere just changed instantly and you have this scene of utter devastation. sara and rees may never forget what they saw. obviously there was people lying on the floor. we weren't sure if it was red wi

the lorry drove into a crowded christmas market packed with tourists and locals at breitscheidplatz,ling 12 people and injuring 49. the suspected driver fled into the darkness of the tiergarten park. he was pursued by a witness, who called the police. soon after that, a 23 year old pakistani man was arrested near the park's victory column monument. but police do not think he was involved. a polish man was found dead in the lorry‘s passenger seat. he was the registered driver, but police believe he was the victim of a hijack. police are still hunting the killer and any accomplices. catriona renton has the latest. this had been a place filled with festive joy. now silence and sadness as people come together to support each other. members of berlin's muslim community sit outside the nearby church asking for peace. translation: we want to clearly distance ourselves from every person that attacks our society. germany is oui’ that attacks our society. germany is our home. we love germany. we want to live here. berlin is our city, and we will not allow our life to be threatened. it is still