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Winnipegger in Berlin says people are in shock after attack

A Winnipegger living in Berlin says it's a little frightening to see police on every rooftop and on every street corner in Berlin after someone drove a truck through a crowded Christmas market.

Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche says people are gathering at the site, lighting candles and praying

CBC News ·
Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche took this photo of the barricades police put up at the entrance to a Christmas market in Berlin. (Courtesy of Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche)

A Winnipegger living in Berlin says candles and flowers are filling the street near where a truck plowed through a Christmas market and killed 12 people on Monday.

"It was very, very sad. There's people everywhere, crying and praying, lighting candles, dropping off flowers.There are a few people singing very quietly. There's police everywhere," said Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche, 22.
Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche says people have been leaving flowers, lighting candles and praying at the site of the attack in Berlin (Facebook)

The market area is blocked and the only building that's accessible is the church, where people are gathering to pray, Bordeleau-Laroche said.

All the Christmas markets in Germany are also closed Tuesday because of the attack.

"It's a little frightening considering in Canada they hide their guns and you've never seen an automatic weapon like that in person, you know, like a foot from you, but I've seen the German police in action quite a few times on the streets of Berlin and I feel safer having more of them around," Bordeleau-Laroche said.
The entrance to the Christmas market that was attacked in Berline is barricaded while police investigate. (Courtesy of Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche)

Tension over refugees and migrants in Germany has been growing, Bordeleau-Laroche said, and the initial reports that the suspect in the crash had sought asylum and been denied are only increasing that tension.

"Especially at the scene itself, there's a lot of people arguing, people saying not to blame the refugees, and people saying that they are to blame, and people are kind of in shock," Bordeleau-Laroche said. 

"People are very angry and sad at the same time."

German police said the man they've detained says he is not responsible, and people should be vigilant.
Flowers and candles have been left near the site of the Berlin attack. (Courtesy of Emilie Bordeleau-Laroche)

Despite the attack, Bordeleau-Laroche said she has no plans for now to leave Berlin, where she has made her home for the past year, and return to Winnipeg.

"I'm OK. Life goes on. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and not to worry about me because the German police is very, very efficient and I'm sure this should be figured out in no time," Bordeleau-Laroche said.

"So whether I was in Winnipeg or whether I'm here, it doesn't change the fact that I'm here, so I have to keep living. I can't really change any of it, and I wouldn't either."

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