BERLIN: German authorities released a Pakistani asylum-seeker suspected of driving a truck into a Berlin Christmas market and killing 12 people due to a lack of evidence.
According to reports, "The accused, detained over the attack on the Berlin Christmas market on December 19, 2016, was let go on this evening on the orders of the federal prosecutor," the prosecutor s office said in a statement.
"The forensic tests carried out so far did not provide evidence of the accused s presence during the crimes in the cab of the lorry."
The claim came less than two hours after the single suspect in the case was released without charge as police admitted they had arrested the wrong man.
Earlier, German prosecutors announced the release of a 23-year-old Pakistani detained in connection with the truck attack, citing a lack of evidence.
Twelve people were killed when the truck tore through the crowd Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims, in scenes reminiscent of July s deadly attack in the French Riviera city of Nice.
Another 48 people were injured, 24 of whom were released from hospital by late Tuesday. The so-called "Islamic State" militant organization has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack at a Berlin Christmas market on Monday.
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