Truck Plows into Berlin Christmas Market

My German friends in Germany are very sad. Lots of activity on my FB site about this. My next door neighbor's daughter is attending university in Berlin and she is to fly to Germany in the next couple of days. She has not cancelled her trip to visit her daughter. It would not stop me from going to Germany (the cold weather might). Just practice due diligence. Stay away from large crowded areas.

So horrible. Just 3 weeks ago our Berlin guests visiting us for Thanksgiving were talking about the potential danger of terrorism at the Christmas markets. We know this market and area well.

Whelp my wife and I were to be going to Berlin next September, maybe not now. Possibly a smaller less desirable target for terrorsits like Nuremberg would be a better fit for us.

This is so sad. These attacks make me think twice about attending large, crowded events. But, they won't keep us from traveling. ✌️My thoughts and prayers with those and their families affected.

Now our young Berlin friends are starting to report themselves Safe on Facebook. This is how we learned about the attack in Paris last year, from our friend who's wedding we attended in France this summer. All former exchange students. My heart is breaking.

Another sad commentary on the times we live in, and undoubtedly this won't be the last incident of this type. I'm also quite familiar with that part of Berlin, as it's close to where my hotel was located. As always my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this heinous and cowardly act.

Deeply, deeply sad.

While we are at it, we should take a moment to consider the 5 Ukrainians killed by terrorists yesterday.

Such sad, sad news... It's truly heart breaking...
I'm praying for all those who've been affected by such a horrific act.

"we should take a moment to consider the 5 Ukrainians killed by terrorists yesterday."

And of course also the family and colleagues of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, and also the three victims of the shootings in Zürich today.

Heartbreaking, sad, and horrifying. First I heard about Berlin, then I heard about the other two attacks.
My heart is heavy tonight. I pray that someday we will all get along, all of us, of all nationalities and religions and see an end to all hate.

My thoughts and prayers go out for all those injured, and for the families of the dead.
My thoughts and prayers also go out for those whose hearts burn with hate for anyone, for any reason.
Please make it stop.

I was in Nice last month and saw that there is still a memorial for the people killed last July on the Promenade. It's difficult for my heart to hold such sadness for all the violence in the world, today and every day.
Peace on earth, good will toward all in these hard times on our planet.

Rebecca, you have captured it very well. Its not about race or religion, its about hate. Thank you for the observation. Since hate breeds on hate, we all have it within us to contribute to ending this trend.

Rebeca, this might give you some hope: https://euobserver.com/social/136331

Today is the second time in the last few weeks that I received a text from my 20 year old daughter letting me know that she was safe. Just a few weeks ago there was the attack at her school (Ohio State University). Luckily she was in her off campus apartment when it happened. Today she let me know that she and the school mates she is traveling with were safely in Cologne when the Berlin attack happened. They had just left Berlin in the morning and had been at that market just a few nights ago. They are on an official school trip and have been prohibited from attending any more of the markets. I can't wait to hug her when she comes home on Christmas Eve.

" "we should take a moment to consider the 5 Ukrainians killed by terrorists yesterday."
And of course also the family and colleagues of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, and also the three victims of the shootings in Zürich today."*

And the civilians caught in Aleppo....

This is so, so sad. My heart is breaking for those families who lost loved ones and for all the people of Berlin. We enjoyed Berlin and stayed at a pension just a few blocks from Kaiser Wilhelm Church.

Discussing terrorism on electronic media always reinforces it and increases the likelihood of another attack.

Yes, I agree with Tom, nevertheless I doubt that terrorists read this Travel Forum.

Kaeleku, what is going on in the world, here, now, today; stinks. If you look backward; what do you achieve? I don't want to live in 1938, and I don't want to benchmark 21 century society based on 1938 norms. I guess all that bothers me is that we come together more vocally for some atrocities than for others; and we are quicker to condemn one set of terrorists while ignoring another set - as Bets makes so apparent. The last time that happened, I think 17% of the Polish populations was killed.

So yes, its horrible, its inexcusable and its about time we quit fighting between each other about who phrased what, how; and direct our efforts properly. Step one, loose the hate STEP 2: Do what Mike says (below); but don't feed the beast.

Total Cowardice,we must not give in to these twisted people,continue to travel and enjoy what the different areas have to offer and prayers for the fallen.
Mike

"we should take a moment to consider the 5 Ukrainians killed by terrorists yesterday."
And of course also the family and colleagues of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, and also the three victims of the shootings in Zürich today."*
And the civilians caught in Aleppo..

And the 9 Dead, 29 Wounded last Weekend Shootings Across Chicago

It sounds like the German police had opportunities to arrest this man before the attack, but like the police in Brussels, didn't act. This may have something to do with the attitude of politicians in Germany. After the attack in Nice, why did they not put up concrete barricades around the Christmas markets and have limited access points with security checks? I know you can't tell when or where or how terrorists will attack, but after Nice this attack was somewhat predictable. I would still travel to France because I think the French are putting forth admirable effort to deal with terrorism, but I would not go to Belgium or Germany because I don't think they have the political will to take proper precautions.

emma, nicely put:

Terrorists only have to get it "right" once, law enforcement have to
get it right 100% of the time

Its a huge and complex social question.