IS militants claim Berlin lorry attack that killed a dozen of people

BBC – The So-called Islamic State (IS) has said one of its militants carried out the lorry attack on a Berlin Christmas market, which left 12 people dead.

The identity of the attacker has not been established and there was no immediate way of verifying the claim.

German prosecutors have freed the only suspect, citing insufficient evidence. He was identified by media only as Pakistani national Naved B.

Officials suggested that a perpetrator or perpetrators might be on the run.

IS said through its news agency that one of its “soldiers” had carried out the attack, in which 49 people were also injured, “in response to calls to target nationals of the coalition countries”.

German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere reacted cautiously to the claim, saying “several lines of investigation” were being pursued.