Germany mourns the victims. Twelve people died and about fifty were injured when a truck crashed at speed into the Christmas market beside the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche).
What many had feared was soon confirmed by the police investigators. The Christmas market was the target of a terrorist attack. Soon afterwards the Chancellor spoke to the press.
She spoke of a "barbaric and inconceivable act of violence". But she also said, "We will find the strength to live as we want to live in Germany: freely, openly and together."
Angela Merkel convened a meeting of the federal security cabinet. She is also in constant contact with the Federal President, the Federal Interior Minister and the Governing Mayor of Berlin.
In the afternoon Cabinet ministers and leading members of Berlin's government visited the scene at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and laid one white rose each as a tribute to the victims.
A huge number of people have already expressed their sympathy.
As a sign of solidarity with the victims and their families, on Tuesday evening the Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the national colours, black, red and gold.
The attack provoked shock and horror well beyond Berlin. Messages of solidarity with Germany poured in from around the world. The French President declared, "The French people grieve with the Germans."
In the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church right next to the scene of the attack some 800 people paid tribute to those killed; among them were Chancellor Angela Merkel and Federal President Joachim Gauck.