20/12/2016 BBC News at Six

Berlin's Christmas market terror attack -

the city's police chief says those responsible

Twelve people were killed when a truck was driven into the stalls.

And our instant reaction, the same as everyone around us,

Chancellor Angela Merkel says it would be sickening if the attacker

is a refugee who arrived in Germany last year.

We'll be looking at what measures are being taken to protect

Also tonight: The body of the Russian ambassador killed

in Turkey is flown back to Moscow - we'll be looking at

Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland could stay in the EU single

market even if the rest of the UK pulls out.

The drug that's activated by laser light - and the new hope it brings

And coming up in the sport on BBC News, Alistair Cook says he won't be

rushed into a decision on his future as England captain,

after India completed a humilliating 4-0 series victory in Chennai.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

German police are warning that whoever was responsible

for yesterday's carnage at a Berlin Christmas market might

Twelve people were killed and nearly 50 injured -

half of them seriously - when a truck was driven

It happened at about eight o'clock last night.

The truck - which was hijacked and its Polish driver killed -

was driven at about 40 miles an hour.

It's not clear from which direction it came, but we do know that it only

stopped after travelling 90 yards or so.

With more on this terror attack, here's our Berlin

Good evening. There is a very subdued mood here in the heart of

Berlin tonight. Last night, thousands of people went along to

that Christmas market. 12 of them never came home again. For some

months, people in Germany have been living with the fear that something

like this could happen. The Christmas markets have long been

considered vulnerable to a terror attack. Of course though no one

really expected this would happen, particularly so soon before

Christmas. A country, a leader facing what they

had long feared. Not only a deadly terror attacks on German soil, but

an attack which may have been perpetrated by someone who entered

the country as a refugee. Even the police admit they still don't know

who drove a lorry at speed into the crust -- credit Christmas market.

Last night they arrested a Pakistani asylum seeker. Today they said

they're not sure they have their man. Those responsible may still be

at large. TRANSLATION: The investigation is

ongoing. We are checking for clues, DNA traces. We're not sure whether

the arrested man was the driver. This investigation is over. The

lorry itself, which belongs to a Polish firm, appears to have been

hijacked. Today, its owner identified the man who should have

been at the wheel. The young Polish driver was found shot date in the

passenger seat. Today, every Christmas market in the city was

closed. Time to remember the dead. And first song, to reflect on a

lucky escape. It's just amazing how peaceful, festive, had -- happy

atmosphere changed instantly. It was a scene of utter devastation. It

will be a long time, they told us, before they will be able to forget

what they saw. There were people lying on the floor. We were not sure

if it was red Wine or blood. But we did see, I remember there were

people trying to lift the stalls up. We realised that the people

unfortunately I believe had already passed. Germany is a country in

mourning. Its chancellor under pressure. Earlier this year, asylum

seekers carried out what are thought to have been the first Islamic State

inspired terror attacks on German soil. Angela Merkel must reassure

the electorate open-door policy has not put them at risk. It would be

particularly hard to bear, she says, if it turns out the Brit -- the

person who did this had sought in Germany. It would be particularly

offensive to the many Germans engaged daily in the task of helping

refugees. The attack took place next to a

bombed out church, left in ruins as a reminder of the horror of war. But

once again, violence, terror, has torn through another European

capital. As we've heard, Chancellor Angela

Merkel has herself raised the possibility that the attacker

could be a refugee. She's already under huge pressure

for letting in hundreds of thousands of people

into the country last year. Political reaction has been swift,

with some blaming yesterday's attack Here's Our Europe Correspondent,

Damian Grammaticas. Beneath one of Berlin's landmarks, a

symbol of war past, the main shopping street was cordoned off

Micro. The attack was a blow to the very heart of Germany. That is why

it is felt so deeply here. Searching for clues about their suspect, this

is where police raided at three o'clock in the morning, Berlin's

biggest asylum shelter. And they had shared a room with a man. He was

questioned for a couple of hours. I am very angry about what has

happened. I am very angry today about what has happened to me. I

didn't do anything. They treated me like a criminal man. Germany has

taken in more than a million people since the migrant crisis began.

Before this week, three lone individuals had carried out attacks.

No Germans had died. Angela Merkel personally identified with the

refugee policy. From an Afghan refugee, she received thanks last

month. Today, Germany's far-right, already resurgent in the opinion

polls, sought to capitalise. This migration policy of Mrs Merkel is

one of the factors because something like this can happen. We don't know

who is in our country. We don't know what background they have. We do not

know if terrorists are in Germany and I think we have to stop this. A

lasting impact of this attack may be political. Questions of security

seized on by those seeking to drain support from Angela Merkel in

federal elections next year. Further afield across Europe, it serves as a

reminder to political leaders that their support remains vulnerable to

acts of terror and violence. A majority of Germans have supported

the welcoming policy, provided it's for refugees fleeing war, voicing it

even today. When people flee their countries and you see the danger

there, we are obliged to have them, she says. Others worry about the

threat. Our politicians need to wake up, he adds, fear is going. They are

not spending on security. It all means the question of who carried

out the attack, whether it was someone welcomed as a refugee, is

crucial for Mrs Merkel and her vision of a free open Germany.

Damien grammatical, Berlin. After yesterday's attack in Berlin,

authorities throughout Europe - including Britain -

have been revisiting their security Here, there's been no specific

intelligence of any plot, and the threat level remains

unchanged at severe, which means a terror

attack is highly likely. Here's our Security

Correspondent, Frank Gardner. Christmas markets, festive cheer

and heightened security. Britain was already

on alert for terrorism before last night's

attack in Berlin. Now, security measures have been

reviewed around public markets. In Birmingham, both uniformed

and plain clothes police The public in this

market seem undeterred. I don't think we can

allow it to happen, to intimidate us or affect our way

of life and what we do. If you dwell on it too much and sit

back and don't do anything, In London, the extremely high number

of CCTV cameras acts as some In Britain, the authorities

also monitor private communications more actively

than in other European countries. But no-one is saying

an attack couldn't happen In this city alone we monitor

thousands of people the whole time. The risk is very

real and that is why it's so important for us

to collaborate, as we do, with our With our Turkish friends

and of course with the Inside MI5 headquarters

is the Government's joint trim Joint Terrorism

Analysis Centre, Berlin attack happened,

they began selling what the security implications are for

us here in Britain. So far they're not aware of any

similar attack planning in the But the national terrorism threat

level remains at the second highest, "severe",

meaning that a terrorist attack of some sort

is This is one measure of preventative

security being tested by The barrier works, but you can't

protect everywhere and one of Britain's most

experienced counter terrorism officers says the key

is good intelligence. Well more bollards and

troops on the streets is absolutely not the

answer to this threat. You have to build your intelligence

capabilities, have you to encourage people to come forward

and trust the agencies and report information and concerns

that they've got. Stopping something like this,

the truck attack in Nice on Bastille Day, that killed over 80

people, is concentrating minds all Today, police are guarding

markets in Brussels and Paris, cities that have recently

experienced terrorist attacks. Despite the Christmas mood,

Europe is a continent on high alert. And we can talk to Jenny

Hill in Berlin now. Jenny, I'm just hearing that there

has been a new development? Yes indeed. There are no reports

circulating widely in the German media, as yet unconfirmed by police,

that officers have led their main suspect go. The Pakistani man who

was believed to have, growing to Germany as an asylum seeker this

year, who've been in custody since last night, has, those reports say,

been released from custody because of insufficient evidence. That means

nearly 24 hours after last night's deadly attack, police have no

suspects in custody. They have admitted that those responsible for

the attack, and they believe it may be more than one person, are still

at large. People in Berlin have been advised to stay in their homes

tonight. The sense of grief throughout Germany this evening is

now very much tinged with a sense of fear. Thank you very much.

Turkish Police have detained six people following the killing

of the Russian Ambassador at an art gallery in Ankara yesterday.

It's believed those being questioned are related to off-duty police

officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, who opened fire.

As the body of ambassador Andrei Karlov was flown back

to Moscow, both the Kremlin and Turkish officials said

the assassination would not derail their negotiations

A farewell to Russia's Ambassador but in a way nobody could envisage.

Andrei Karlov's body was flown back to Moscow, the victim of an

His government called him an "eternal symbol of Russian-

He was opening an exhibition in Ankara last night,

behind him, smartly dressed, his killer, a Turkish policeman.

The gunman paces calmly, gearing up to

strike, occasionally fumbling in his pocket.

At the Russian embassy today, tight security and tributes to an

ambassador who had served here for three years as Russia

They back opposite sides in the war, but have

Those who knew him called Mr Karlov a brilliant

Do you understand why there is anger against Russia here?

I think I understand, but it is difficult to

The Turkey-Russia relationship has always been tricky,

but this murder might actually bring them closer against the common enemy

In Syria they're helping each other achieve their goals -

Russian and regime control of Aleppo, Turkish

influence in the North and

lacking many other allies at the moment, Turkey

Andrei Karlov was one of Russia's most seasoned diplomats,

called softly spoken and professional.

The Russian embassy street here will be renamed in his

Both countries have painted this as a plot to derail ties.

Turkey's President said he and Vladimir Putin agreed it was an

perfidious attack and provocation against Turkish-Russian relations.

Turkey's press found its own conspiracies.

Some called it a CIA operation, others a job by the West.

Could the killer have been brainwashed in the

These online videos seem to show policemen made to chant

Was he a lone wolf, a jihadist sympathiser?

Either way a 22-year-old policeman became an

We can talk to Steve Rosenberg in Moscow.

Steve, these sorts of incidents could unleash all sorts of tensions.

How is the Kremlin handling it? Cautiously, I think is the answer to

that one. It's no secret that Russia and Turkey have had quite a

difficult and sometimes an explosive relationship. Think back to just

over a year ago when the Turkish air force shot down a Russian bomber.

Recently, they have tried to put that behind them and forge a new

relationship basically because the two Presidents have calculated it is

in their interest to do that. That is why since last night, Moscow and

Ankara have been going out of their way to display a united front and

make it clear they do not want to followed again. The Russians have a

lot riding on this show of unity because they truly believe that the

new Moscow led diplomacy, the troika of Russia, Iran and Turkey, is on

the verge of a diplomatic breakthrough in Syria, which, if

they can achieve it, and it is a big if, could elevate the Russians to

the position of chief power broker and player in the Middle East.

Steve, thank you. The time is 6. 1. 6.1.pm. -- 6.

17pm. The terror attack on Berlin's

Christmas market, German police say those responsible could still be

on the run. England's cricketers collapse

to give India a clean The former Wimbledon champion,

Petra Kvitova, is undergoing potentially career-saving surgery

after a knife attack at her home There are a 130 new cases

of prostate cancer diagnosed every day in the UK,

making it the most common form A new treatment is being hailed

by doctors as a major advance because it can eliminate tumours

without serious side effects. It uses lasers and a drug developed

from deep sea bacteria as our medical correspondent,

Fergus Walsh, explains. This is the technology

which represents a huge leap It involves a drug derived

from bacteria found in the darkness This laser optic fibre

is inserted into the prostate, the light activates the drug

which kills the cancer. When Gerald Capam was diagnosed

with early prostate cancer, he was worried it might develop

and he'd need surgery or radiotherapy, which can cause

incontinence or impotence. Instead, he became one of the first

successfully treated with the new light therapy and had

no long-term side effects. Well, I feel incredibly lucky that

I was accepted for the trial. I can look forward to

the remaining years of my life, One in eight men will be diagnosed

with prostate cancer, so this highly effective

new treatment, known as photodynamic therapy,

could be hugely significant. The light-sensitive drug is injected

into the bloodstream. It's derived from deep sea bacteria,

which are efficient Through a thin tube, a laser light

is inserted into the prostate, the light activates the drug

which destroys the cancer cells. The journal, Lancet Oncology,

reports that half the patients given photodynamic therapy were completely

clear of cancer two years later, compared to about one in seven

of those given standard care. Crucially, it did not

cause major side effects. The harms with traditional

treatments have always been the side effects,

oar urinary incontinence. In other words, leaking

urine and requiring pads. Sexual difficulties,

which occurs in the majority To have a new treatment

now that we can administer to men who are eligible,

that is virtually free of those side effects,

is truly transformative. The treatment is likely to cost

around ?20,000 a patient and is expected to be approved

in Europe following these Its use is also being

trialled in other cancers. So it won't be cheep,

but for prostate patients, photodynamic therapy represents

a powerful new weapon Scotland's First Minister,

Nicola Sturgeon, has unveiled proposals for Scotland's future

relations with Europe after Brexit. She believes it would be possible

for Scotland to remain in the European single market

even if the rest of the UK left. The UK Government has

warned that a special deal Here's our Scotland

editor, Sarah Smith. Nicola Sturgeon has a plan,

she says it's the only serious plan for Brexit any government has yet

come up with. And she argues, just

because the UK is leaving the EU, it does not have to leave

the single market. I accept that there is a mandate

in England and Wales to take the UK out of the EU,

however I do not accept that there is a mandate to take

any part of the UK out Scotland could stay in the single

market even if the rest Today's proposals,

from Nicola Sturgeon, are nothing like the red,

white and blue Brexit Theresa May talks about,

they're more of a bespoke, For Scotland to be able to stay

in the single market, substantial new powers would need

to be devolved. Control over immigration,

business regulation and employment law would all need to be transferred

north of the border. The mechanics of how it

all might work are complex. The Scottish Government say it's

essential for businesses, like this tartan mill

in the Scottish Borders, They claim firms like this

could employ EU nationals who would not have the right to work

elsewhere in the UK, It'd be legally and politically

and technically extremely difficult for Scotland to stay in the single

market if the United Kingdom is leaving the EU because there'd be

one set of business regulations applying to Scotland and another set

applying to England. That would only be possible

if there was a complete devolution of all powers

on business regulation. If Nicola Sturgeon can get

a totally different tartan Brexit deal for Scotland,

that would be a major If the Prime Minister

ignores her demands, that's not necessarily

a total defeat. Nicola Sturgeon can use that

to strengthen her arguments for a second referendum

on Scottish independence. The Prime Minister today dismissed

the idea of a separate Scottish deal and warned

against a rush to independence. If Scotland were to become

independent, then not only would it no longer be a member

of the European Union, it would no longer be a member

of the single market of the European Union and it

would no longer be a member of the single market

of the United Kingdom, and the single market

of the United Kingdom is worth four times as much to Scotland

as the single market Trying to weave together

the different demands for Brexit could yet strain the bonds that hold

the UK together. A planned strike by around 1,500

baggage handlers and check-in staff at 18 UK airports

has been suspended. Employees of Swissport were due

to strike over a proposed pay deal But the union Unite said agreement

had now been reached on an improved pay offer.

The Queen is stepping down as patron of 25 national organisations.

Buckingham Palace said the announcement marked

the beginning of a process that would see patronages pass to other

Those affected include the Nspcc, Barnardos and Wimbledon.

The Queen is patron of more than 600 organisations.

The two times Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova, is undergoing

what has been described as potentially "career saving"

surgery after a knife attack at her home.

It's understood an intruder gained access to her apartment

During a struggle, she suffered severe lacerations

The England cricket captain, Alastair Cook, has said he will not

make an immediate decision on whether he will stay in the job,

following his side's dismal performance in the final

England collapsed from 103 without loss to 207 all out,

Our sports correspondent, Joe Wilson, reports.

Here's how India might look from the plane home.

It's a view England must have longed for, one more day.

With a foretaste of Christmas, the collapse came after lunch.

From 103-0, England were 207 all out.

When he wasn't bowling, he was fielding.

Jonny Bairstow on one - up, up, and out.

A fifth Test defeat of the winter loomed, it went without saying

With over an hour left, eighth wicket.

When the wins stop, the buck stops with the captain,

It's the wrong time to make those decisions because your

You know, morale is low and you can make some foolish

So why there's not a Test match for seven months,

it'll seem very foolish to stand here now and make a decision.

Well, England need Cook in the team, scoring runs.

That might seem far more easy without the burden of captaincy.

We won't like it? No, I can walk out now, if you like. Yesterday we left

the forecast on a bit of a gloomy note. This time yesterday and it

looks like severe gales are on the way.

It is looking stormy across the Atlantic. The jetstream is pushing

the clouds. Storms will develop over the next couple of days or so. One

front crossing the UK. It has been a shocking day, for example, in

Northern Ireland, in Belfast, cold, raining through the afternoon, gusty

winds. The rain will cross other parts of the country. This is not

the storm, this is the beginning of the unsettled weather. It is turning

chilly as well. Wednesday, there will be sunshine, I don't want to

paint a picture of doom and gloom. There will be nice weather around.

It's windy to the north. There will be hail showers, maybe thunder

around as well in one or two places. The south, later on tomorrow, is

going to be pretty soggy. If you are out in the afternoon in the south

tomorrow it will be grey and rainy. That rain will last until well after

dark. Then the skies will clear. We get a shot of really chilly air

through the course of Wednesday night into Thursday. Thursday

morning starts off nippy. Not too much wind at this stage in the

south, the North is being blasted by this cold gale coming out of the

Atlantic Ocean. Hail showers and sleet showers across the hills. Six

degrees, add the wind, it will be nippy. In the south there will be

sunshine. That is Thursday come Friday. A warning from The Met

office. Amber warning for severe gales. It will be brought in by

Storm Barbara. We were talking about the potential for nasty weather.

Storm Barbara will bring winds to Scotland, 90 further south, 50 to

70. Thank you. Our main story. The man arrested on suspicion of the

terror attack on Berlin's Christmas market has been released. German

police say those responsible are still on-the-run.

Continuing coverage on the Berlin lorry attack throughout the evening

on the BBC's news channel and the BBC website. That's all from the BBC

News at Six. It's goodbye from me. On BBC One we