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A truck has ploughed into a Christmas market in Berlin.


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Old 24-12-2016, 18:11
francie
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A growing number of people are asking Germany to award the Polish truck driver with an order of merit.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ny-order-merit

Also a funding page has been set up for his family.

https://www.gofundme.com/van9vwuk?vi...campaign=upd_n
That's the one I read about, I think the person is himself a truck driver and comes from Yorkshire.
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:23
blueblade
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A growing number of people are asking Germany to award the Polish truck driver with an order of merit.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ny-order-merit

The funding page set up for his family is here.

https://www.gofundme.com/van9vwuk?vi...campaign=upd_n
I'd be one of them.
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:24
Skaface
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I saw on the news earlier that the body of the Italian woman has been flown back to Italy - I believe she was the one who was originally classed as 'missing', despite her phone and travel card being found at the scene soon after the attack.

I also saw an interview with one of Amri's brothers - he said despite being willing to disown him yesterday, he was angry that his brother had been killed instead of taken alive for questioning, as he was merely a 'suspect'. Surely he must know it's highly likely his brother would no doubt still be alive if he hadn't shot one of the police who were about to arrest this 'suspect' for questioning? Conveniently, he didn't mention the fact his brother's DNA had been found plastered all over the hijacked lorry either. He said he wanted his brother's body returned, even if it was just a finger he could keep in his pocket!
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:36
flashfiction
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Because it normally makes the tragedy seem more real.....
I understand what you are saying - emphasises the human dimension, the human suffering. American families really pushed the media to drastically change their reportage of mass slayings ( eg. school shootings ) so that the victims, the losses, were made real and the perpetrators received less attention. Big victim advocacy movement over there, you see it in the courtrooms too so you'll hear very long accounts of the lives and achievements on the dead read out by relatives.

No idea if it' s for legal reasons, privacy, cultural (reticence keeps being cited ) etc but about half the dead are not Germans, they are international visitors to Berlin. Some families have made statements, not sure how it works.

You could say that not putting human faces to the victims in this case also helps not rock the boat/ political status quo when so many are clamouring to prove a political point but it might be a stretch to say that this was part of the intention. I dunno.
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:38
flashfiction
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I'd be one of them.
It's on £140 K already. Won't bring him back of course but might help his son in the future.
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:48
sutie
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What a fabulous Foundation they've started. I read a day or so ago that someone's started a donation fund for the Polish driver. People are so caring.



Lovely isn't it? Helps in some small way to counteract the evil.
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Old 24-12-2016, 18:55
Grafenwalder
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That's the one I read about, I think the person is himself a truck driver and comes from Yorkshire.
Yes he is and lives in Otley, West Yorkshire. If he drives long distance it wouldn't surprise me if he's been in Poland many times with work.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...in-attack.html


I'd be one of them.
I agree. From all accounts he put up quite a fight and is quite a big chap too. I read in some reports where Police believe he was still alive but badly beaten at the time the attack took place, then Amri shot him dead before fleeing.
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Old 24-12-2016, 19:00
Alrightmate
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People like this need to be kept in solitary, as not to radicalise other thick/vulnerable inmates.
I think it's a bit of myth to assume that extremists who are radicalised are thick.
Many of them are highly educated and intelligent.
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Old 24-12-2016, 19:01
Alrightmate
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Why seek aslum in a Country you want to blow up No doubt if they are convicted, once released they will be allowed to stay as it will be too dangerous to send them home.
To think that you'd have to assume that those same people are actually seeking asylum.
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Old 24-12-2016, 19:21
francie
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Lovely isn't it? Helps in some small way to counteract the evil.
Certainly does sutie.
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Old 25-12-2016, 01:07
Union Jock
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To think that you'd have to assume that those same people are actually seeking asylum.
From the link

'Mr Mohammed, an Eritrean national who is seeking asylum in the UK',



Not sure about the other though, she could have been one at some time and given permission to stay.
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Old 27-12-2016, 18:24
francie
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"Polish driver Lukasz Urban was shot in the head hours before suspected jihadist killer Anis Amri rammed the man's lorry into a crowd, say German media citing a post-mortem examination."

" The conclusions of Mr Urban's post-mortem examination say he was shot in the head between 16:30 (15:30 GMT) and 17:30 and lost a lot of blood, the paper reports. His boss and cousin said he had lost contact with him at around 16:00.

The attack on the market at Breitscheidplatz took place just after 20:00, and he may still have been alive at the time in the passenger seat although not capable of grabbing a steering wheel, Bild adds." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38442447

Poor soul xxx
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:46
Versailles
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It comes as no surprise to anyone that Farage is wetting his knickers at this as it gives him the opportunity to spew some of his twisted hateful bile.

He's already had a dig at Jo Cox'a windower - the vindictive piece of pondlife.
Ok, so by that logic, the lefties were wetting their knickers when little Aylan Kurdi was found dead on the beach?

Do you hear how sick that sounds?
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Old 29-12-2016, 00:27
Grafenwalder
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Ok, so by that logic, the lefties were wetting their knickers when little Aylan Kurdi was found dead on the beach?
I think most normal people found the news and pictures of little three year old Aylan Kurdi washed up dead on the beach extremely distressing, along with the many other people drowned whilst fleeing war torn Syria.

I didn't get that impression from the words uttered by Farage about the Berlin attack then later accusing Jo Cox's husband of "supporting extremists".
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Old 29-12-2016, 00:33
Grafenwalder
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An update on the truck attack.

It's been found the truck engaged an electronic auto-braking system after sensing the collision, forcing the truck to a halt.

http://www.dw.com/en/automatic-brake...ack/a-36936455

The funding page set up by British trucker David Duncan to help Polish trucker Lukasz Urbans family, has now reached £175,698.

https://www.gofundme.com/van9vwuk
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Old 29-12-2016, 03:02
WhatJoeThinks
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Now there's an EU regulation to be thankful for.
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Old 29-12-2016, 05:34
RobinOfLoxley
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I think most normal people found the news and pictures of little three year old Aylan Kurdi washed up dead on the beach extremely distressing, along with the many other people drowned whilst fleeing war torn Syria.

I didn't get that impression from the words uttered by Farage about the Berlin attack then later accusing Jo Cox's husband of "supporting extremists".
That tragic photo was a necessary cattle prod to remind us that real people were and are dying and some solution must be found.

Farage has his comedic value, but his true colours shone through with him wetting his knickers over an opportunity for odious soundbites http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/apologise-n...remist-1597447


An update on the truck attack.

It's been found the truck engaged an electronic auto-braking system after sensing the collision, forcing the truck to a halt.

http://www.dw.com/en/automatic-brake...ack/a-36936455

The funding page set up by British trucker David Duncan to help Polish trucker Lukasz Urbans family, has now reached £175,698.

https://www.gofundme.com/van9vwuk
Just a technical observation that I wasn't aware Trucks had this safety measure.
Is it part of a mandatory EU Directive for new builds?

Side issue: Do they have airbags too? (just in case I ever go hitching again)
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Old 29-12-2016, 14:03
Grafenwalder
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Just a technical observation that I wasn't aware Trucks had this safety measure.
Is it part of a mandatory EU Directive for new builds?

Side issue: Do they have airbags too? (just in case I ever go hitching again)
Yes. From the article,

In 2012, the European Union adopted mandatory regulations requiring all new trucks exceeding 3,500 kilograms be fitted with advanced emergency braking systems. The systems initially alert drivers and then take evasive action.

Judging by the condition of the Polish truck it looked fairly new anyway but after reading that article, it's now certain it was no older than four years old and possibly less than that.

I'm not sure about airbags in HGV's. Unlike cars i don't think they are a mandatory fitment. Perhaps there is an HGV poster on the forum who could answer this?
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Old 29-12-2016, 14:10
RobinOfLoxley
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Obviously the terrorist was unaware too, or they could have ploughed through dozens of Christmas Sheds.
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Old 29-12-2016, 14:50
Grafenwalder
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Obviously the terrorist was unaware too, or they could have ploughed through dozens of Christmas Sheds.
Yes they mentioned that point on the news last night.

Apart from the shock and grief the truck drivers widow and family must be suffering, i can't help but have sympathy too for his cousin Ariel Zurawski, who owns the truck business.

After failing to contact his driver by phone he looked at the truck tracking data to try and see what it was doing. There is an unusual timeline of activity which in his words "looked as though someone was trying to learn how to drive the truck". Knowing what he now knows, he must have asked himself many times since, 'why didn't i contact the police and ask them to investigate'.

It's easy with hindsight but i doubt any of us would have reacted differently. Maybe this will bring in more electronic gadgetry for HGV's.
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Old 29-12-2016, 15:18
RobinOfLoxley
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I doubt it, since Cyclist CCTV and beepers and better Wing Mirrors haven't been widely adopted yet, in spite of many, many calls for them.

Terrorists would also just change their tactics and avoid modern HGVs too.
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Old 29-12-2016, 15:35
Dotheboyshall
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Yes. From the article,

In 2012, the European Union adopted mandatory regulations requiring all new trucks exceeding 3,500 kilograms be fitted with advanced emergency braking systems. The systems initially alert drivers and then take evasive action.

Judging by the condition of the Polish truck it looked fairly new anyway but after reading that article, it's now certain it was no older than four years old and possibly less than that.

I'm not sure about airbags in HGV's. Unlike cars i don't think they are a mandatory fitment. Perhaps there is an HGV poster on the forum who could answer this?
It's elf and safety gorn mad, good job we are leaving the EU and will be able to get rid of such Eurocrat rules.
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Old 29-12-2016, 15:49
Grafenwalder
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I doubt it, since Cyclist CCTV and beepers and better Wing Mirrors haven't been widely adopted yet, in spite of many, many calls for them.

Terrorists would also just change their tactics and avoid modern HGVs too.
I was thinking more in terms of electronic disabling devices. Door locks have got more sophisticated on cars so i imagine similar has carried over into HGV's.

Drivers are also trained about security. I was parked up on a service area in Germany when a Dutch registered truck parked up in front of me. I was puzzled when the driver who was going off for a meal, flung both rear trailer doors wide open and locked them back. The inside was totally empty. Another trucker told me it's a common practice used to dissuade any thieves or migrants from entering the trailer.

A simple yet effective anti-theft or stowaway solution!
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Old 29-12-2016, 15:52
Grafenwalder
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It's elf and safety gorn mad, good job we are leaving the EU and will be able to get rid of such Eurocrat rules.
As one poster previously mentioned 'there's one EU regulation to be thankful for.' I agree and surprised anyone could think different on that.
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Old 04-01-2017, 16:16
Grouty
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A 26yr old Tunisian man has been arrested in connection with it.
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