Terror Strikes Berlin, Ankara and Zurich; Some ISIS Links Suspected

Terror attacks in both Berlin and Ankara on Monday are believed by some to be linked by the presumption that the Islamic State was behind both incidents. In Berlin, a truck plowed into the city’s crowded Christmas marketplace – the same tactic used in Nice last summer where more than 50 were killed. German officials say the driver is in custody while a second terrorist riding with him was shot and killed by police. The investigation is being conducted by federal authorities who have jurisdiction in cases of terrorism. Although no responsibility has been taken for the attack, ISIS is the most prominent suspect. A short time before the Berlin massacre, the Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot and killed while addressing a group at an art gallery in Ankara. The assailant, who was shot dead, was said to be a Turkish policeman. Before and after gunning down the victim, he screamed “Don’t forget Aleppo” and “Don’t forget Syria.” He also hollered “Allahu Akbar,” the Arabic chant that “God is great.” Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone and agreed that the murder was aimed at driving a wedge between the two nations. Turkey and Russia are already at odds over Moscow’s support for Syrian strongman President Bashar Al-Assad. Shortly after the killing in Ankara, a gunman fired eight rounds from his shotgun while standing outside the American Embassy. He injured no one before being subdued by guards. Officials have not been able to link the shotgun shooter to the art gallery killing. Violence also struck in Zurich on Monday when a lone gunman entered a mosque and fired, wounding three. Unlike the other shootings of the day, authorities believe it was a criminal rather than terrorist motive, linking it to a body found nearby.