Now it's Germany's turn.

[Workingman]

This time a proper attack with no warning.

It was all so predictable when Merkel opened the flood gates. I hope she lives to regret it at the polls, but also that Germany stays calm. Right wing parties are rising in Germany and they will use this attack as a recruitment tool.

[Suff]

It's way, way, too late now. The German government was warned that IS was infiltrating jihadists in with the illegals. Germany chose to treat the illegals as "poor waifs" and they set the scene.

They're there now, the money is in place and the mayhem will, slowly but surely, unfold.

[cromwell]

Yes, it was predictable. Those poor people though. To go out shopping and to be murdered like that.

I still think Merkel will get in again. The media is heavily biased in her favour and I'm sure that German TV is just as adept at showing cute 3 year old refugee children as ours is; and equally adept at trying to ignore the reality that the majority of refugees are single young men; and just as keen to play down sexual assaults committed by some of these young men.

As soon as an attack like this happens the BBC starts getting it's knickers in a twist and yammers on about the far right. It isn't the far right who are actually driving lorries over people or using suicide bombers.

[JoM]

It was on our local BBC news a couple of weeks ago that there were concerns about Christmas markets and shopping areas being targeted, as a consequence concrete barriers were installed around the market in Birmingham to prevent what sadly happened in Berlin.

[cromwell]

It is a sad thing that the Police think that they are needed Jo; but better safe than sorry I suppose.

[TheOstrich]

Regrettably, concrete barriers won't stop lone suicide bombers .... I think that is the greater danger in the UK. It may have to come that there's controlled entrances and exits to these markets, with security guards patting folk down..

I also think the UK intelligence services must be the unsung heroes behind the fact we've not had recent atrocities in this country.

[Suff]

I also think the UK intelligence services must be the unsung heroes behind the fact we've not had recent atrocities in this country.

It's what the snoopers charter is all about. Sadly.

[cromwell]

The original suspect in this crime has been le go, less than 24 hours after the attack happened. The police have cited lack of evidence.

OK, but evidence takes time to gather. In an atrocity like this I would expect the police to take fingerprints and DNA samples from inside the truck and check them against the suspect; and to look for samples of fibres from the suspects clothing there.
The suspect would surely be checked for gunshot residue on his hands and clothing. His clothing would also be taken and checked to see if there were any spots of blood from the murdered Polish driver present.
CCTV footage would have to be sought out and studied.

I can't see that there has been time to do all of this, and they have let a suspect go.

I hope that political pressure hasn't been applied to the German police.

[Workingman]

There were earlier reports that members of the drivers' family and circle of friends had been taken into custody for questioning.

IS has claimed that he is one of theirs.

The German system is different from ours, but because he has been 'released' does not mean that he is 'free' to roam.

[JoM]

Regrettably, concrete barriers won't stop lone suicide bombers .... I think that is the greater danger in the UK. It may have to come that there's controlled entrances and exits to these markets, with security guards patting folk down..

I also think the UK intelligence services must be the unsung heroes behind the fact we've not had recent atrocities in this country.

I think the Winter Wonderland event in Hyde Park has security on the entrances but, I think, just bag checks are carried out which won't find explosives strapped to someone's body.
I'm trying not to think about it too much or I'll be in a state of constant worry. The places which could be targeted are endless. For instance, do all shoppers entering the Bullring need searching? I went to a concert with Tom a few days after the attacks in Paris and found myself looking around while waiting for it to start, my mind had started looking for possible ways to exit the place should we need to.