TERROR ATTACK LUCKY ESCAPE
Relieved student missed Christmas market lorry carnage by just 10 mins
A Perth student has spoken of her relief after narrowly escaping being caught up in Monday’s attack on the Christmas Market in Berlin.
Tragedy struck when a large lorry ploughed through one of the German capital’s popular Christmas markets, killing 12 people and injuring many more.
Former Perth Academy pupil Amy Sutherland had arrived in Berlin earlier in the day with her boyfriend and headed straight for the famous stalls – a favourite with tourists and locals alike in the run-up to Christmas.
Minutes before the attack, Amy decided to head away from Perth’s Amy Sutherland
the market and eat in a nearby restaurant. “We felt beyond relieved to have moved on just 10 minutes earlier,” said the 21-year-old, who studies Law at Strathclyde University.
She continued: “My boyfriend wanted to stay at the markets, but I didn’t want to because I said we had all week to explore them.
“Luckily we went with my decision. We feel so lucky that we chose to leave the market and eat in a nearby restaurant.
“We cannot imagine the devastation that those affected are experiencing.”
Amy learned of the attack through a number of calls and texts from loved ones who were worried about her wellbeing.
She explained: “We didn’t hear the attack taking place in the restaurant.
“Before even replying to my family or Googling it, I just knew something bad had happened and I felt sick.
“The restaurant then fell silent and everyone had their phones out and panic erupted. Everybody was phoning their loved ones.
“Our hotel was at the market so we had to walk back past them on our way back. The streets were filled but were eerily silent.
“Everyone was crying and armed police were manning every part of the street. You could feel the fear and upset everybody was experiencing, it was beyond sad.
“We could see what part of the market had been hit, it was where we had taken a picture 10 minutes before.”
Amy added: “We booked to come to Berlin in June, because of the markets.
“We had seen loads of pictures of them and the reviews said it was a great place to be in the lead up to Christmas, so we thought it would be an ideal break after our university exams.
“The market was lit up, loud festive music was playing and every stall was busy.
“There were a lot of people eating and drinking in big groups. It had a really cosy and festive atmosphere when we first arrived.”
A Europe-wide search is still under way for the man authorities suspect to be behind the incident.
The Breitscheidplatz market re-opened amid heightened security on Thursday.