Truck attack suspect had been under surveillance

21 December 2016, 8:59 pm

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German authorities say the suspect in Monday’s deadly truck attack in Berlin was under covert surveillance for several months this year.

Berlin prosecutors tell The Associated Press in a statement that they launched an investigation against Anis Amri on March 14 followed a tip from federal security agencies.

The tip warned that Amri, who was considered a potential threat by authorities in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, might be planning a break-in to finance the purchase of automatic weapons for use in an attack.

Surveillance showed that Amri was involved in drug dealing in a Berlin park and involved in a bar brawl, but no evidence to substantiate the original warning. The observation was called off in September.

— AP