Berlin. Shock, horror, sadness: in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, a man ran over several people on December 1st. Five victims die, including a nine-week-old baby and his father, 45, and three women aged 25, 52 and 73. 24 people are injured, some seriously. The 51-year-old German races through the pedestrian zone of the historic city center in an off-road vehicle for four minutes, then the police can stop and arrest him. A day later, an arrest warrant is issued against the man, who comes from a suburb of Trier. It is said that he last stayed in his vehicle and lived in dire circumstances.
A total of more than 750 police and emergency and rescue services from the region are on duty. According to the police, “the behavior of many passers-by who had already taken care of the injured person before the emergency services arrived” is exemplary. The driver’s motive remains unclear. Everything points to the act of a single perpetrator, according to the investigators Reconstruct the exact route and track the sequence of killings and injuries.
The deed shook the city. Lord Mayor Wolfram Leibe speaks of the “blackest day” for Trier since the Second World War. A memorial site will be set up at the famous Porta Nigra and will be preserved in the future.
According to the Rhineland-Palatinate Victims Commissioner Detlef Placzek, the victims of the Trier rampage can count on help from the Victims Compensation Act. Cases in which cars are used as weapons are actually only covered from 2024 after the attack on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin. But there is a hardship rule.
Humboldt Forum is partially opened
articlebody:textmodule) –>
The Humboldt Forum will complete its first opening phase on December 16. A streamed tour initially enables a digital insight due to the corona. After seven years of construction, the 677 million euro project behind the partially reconstructed baroque facade of the Berlin City Palace is to be opened in three stages by the end of 2021. The new center for culture, art and science will be used by two museums of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the State of Berlin and the Humboldt University. Exhibits from Asia, Africa, America and Oceania as well as objects on the history of Berlin are shown. The approximately 40,000 square meter building designed by the Italian architect Franco Stella is located directly opposite the world-famous Museum Island.
Two robberies on money messengers
articlebody:textmodule) –>
For the second time within a few days, on December 17th, a money transporter was attacked and robbed in Berlin. On December 15, it hit the Ikea branch in Schöneberg, this time the venue is the Park Center in Treptow. The employees are only allowed to leave the center hours after the crime and with their hands raised. The three robbers escape in a car. According to the police, they stole a money transport suitcase, threatened two messengers with firearms and used irritant gas against them. In the attack on the Ikea market, too, three robbers robbed a money transporter, threatened a messenger with firearms and stole a suitcase. They escaped in a white Audi with stolen license plates. There have already been several similar cases in Berlin this year, for example in June in Wilmersdorf, in July in Neukölln or in August again in Wilmersdorf.
Shopping before the lockdown
articlebody:textmodule) –>
The number of infections is increasing – in Germany, the hard lockdown begins on December 16. Schools and most of the shops are now also closing, including this time home improvement and furniture stores, hairdressers and beauty salons. In the days before that, shoppers storm the shops and long queues form. The lockdown should initially last until January 10th. There is trouble because the regulations of the countries differ in individual points. In some countries, customers are allowed to pick up the goods they have ordered in stores, in others not. There are also differences when it comes to the question of which shops cover daily needs and are therefore allowed to remain open. On December 30th, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported a new high for Germany with 1,129 corona deaths within one day. More and more representatives from politics and science expect the corona restrictions to continue beyond January 10th.
Lewandowski is world footballer of the year
articlebody:textmodule) –>
On December 17th, the World Football Association named Polish striker Robert Lewandowski World Footballer of the Year, World Goalkeeper of the Year is Manuel Neuer. Both play for the German record champions FC Bayern Munich. The coach of the year is again the German Jürgen Klopp from Liverpool FC. This means that the 32-year-old Lewandowski is at the height of his career. He wins the election against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Lewandowski, born in Warsaw, has played for FC Bayern Munich since 2014. In 2020 he won the triple, the German championship, the DFB Cup and the title in the Champions League. Lewandowski was the top scorer in all three competitions. One and a half weeks after being honored as a world footballer, the Bayern goalscorer was also honored with the Globe Soccer Award.
Joe Biden election result confirmed
articlebody:textmodule) –>
In the US, the electoral body confirms the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the US presidential election. Biden received 306 of the 538 votes, incumbent Donald Trump only 232. 270 votes were required. However, Trump continues to refuse to admit defeat. The 78-year-old former Vice President Biden becomes the 46th US President. In his speech that evening, Biden promised he would be a president to all Americans. And reminds citizens of the strength of democracy: “We now know that nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power, can extinguish this flame.” Now it is time to bridge the gap and come together. Biden is scheduled to take office on January 20. Since 1933, all presidents were inaugurated that day at 12 noon. The day is a public holiday in the United States.
What else happened
The Tui Group receives further state aid on December 2nd. The travel agent agrees with investors, banks and the federal government on a financing package of 1.8 billion euros. The federal government is already supporting Tui with three billion euros.
The Berlin actress Jutta lamp dies on December 3rd at the age of 82. Other prominent bereavements in December: the former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (December 2nd), the “King of Choirs” Gotthilf Fischer (December 11th) and the bestselling author John le Carré (December 12th).
Ten years after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Underground line U5 from the direction of Hönow from the previous terminus at Alexanderplatz to the main station. New underground stations are Rotes Rathaus, Museum Island and Unter den Linden.
Senator of Culture Klaus Lederer should lead the Berlin Left in the election for the House of Representatives in 2021. The party’s state executive nominated the 46-year-old as a top candidate on December 8th. On December 12th, Bettina Jarasch becomes the top candidate for the Berlin Greens.
Great Britain vaccinated against the corona virus as the first European country on December 8th. The vaccine from the Mainz company Biontech and its US partner Pfizer was approved on December 2nd on the island.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) will stop the controversial increase in the Broadcasting feesby not forwarding the law to the state parliament. The nationally planned increase of 86 cents is therefore obsolete for the time being.
On December 12th, actress wins Paula Beer the European Film Award for Best Actress. The 25-year-old is honored for her role in the love drama “Undine”.
Almost three years after the fatal collision of a police vehicle with a young woman’s car in Berlin, a 53-year-old police chief inspector was convicted on December 15. The Tiergarten district court found him guilty of negligent homicide and imposed one prison sentence one year and two months probation.
The Berlinale will not take place in February as planned next year, it will be announced on December 18th. Instead, there will be a digital industry get-together in March, and film screenings for the public are planned for June.
In Great Britain it was announced on December 20th that a dangerous Mutation of the coronavirus has gotten out of control. It should be significantly more contagious than the previously known form. Germany and other countries are initially stopping air traffic from the Kingdom.
The Berlin Senate bans on December 23 New Year fireworks and firecrackers in many places in the city. The list comprises a total of 56 areas.
After lengthy negotiations, the EU and Great Britain finally reach an agreement on December 24th Trade agreement. This avoids a tough Brexit exit by the kingdom from January 1st at the last minute.
On December 27th, the Corona vaccinations start. In Berlin, 101-year-old Gertrud Haase was the first to receive the vaccine in a nursing home in Steglitz. The first of six vaccination centers in the capital will also open – and will close again at the turn of the year. It is said that there have not been that many bookings.
– .
