When searching for an appropriate topic for my blog entry this evening, I stumbled across the news about what had just happened in Berlin. Because I could not resist reading up on the subject immediately, I now decided to write about this incident instead.
Of course, it is far too early to be able to say anything about the reasons why this truck drove into the crowd at a Berlin christmas market—the news spokesperson mentioned often enough that it might have been either an accident or a terrorist attack. But if the latter should be the case, it would hardly be a great surprise to anyone. After all, it is to be expected that Germany is one of the closest aims for international terrorism, "succeeding" other European countries like France or Belgium that already had to experience terrorist attacks in the recent past.
The reason why people are urged not to spread non-proven rumours about this deed, other deeds, and the general dangers of potential attacks is that it would cause panic in the public—which is allegedly what terrorists mainly want to achieve. To me, though, the most difficult question is not how I can manage to stay away from big crowds from now on. I hate to be on christmas markets anyway. To me, the most difficult question is what I can do to protect myself and the persons that are important to me from this kind of harm that could technically occur anywhere at any time. Is there anything anyone can do? Or do we just have to wait and see what happens next?

Aaron's edit:

When searching for an appropriate topic for my blog entry this evening, I stumbled across the news about what had just happened in Berlin. Because I could not resist reading up on the subject immediately, I [T/Asp - ^ have] now decided to write about this incident instead [foc,coh -^of continuing to look for something else]. 

Of course, it is far too early to be able to say anything about the reasons why (this truck drove) [Foc,coh - I’m writing at nearly a month’s distance, but still, even then it was clear the truck wasn’t driving itself! - ^ someone drove a truck]  into the crowd at a Berlin (christmas) [St-caps - ^Christmas] market—the news spokesperson mentioned often enough that it might have been either an accident or a terrorist attack. But if the latter should be the case, it would hardly be a great surprise to anyone. After all, it is to be expected that Germany is one of the closest (aims) [W-^targets] for international terrorism, "succeeding" other European countries like France or Belgium that already [T/Asp - ^ have] had to experience terrorist attacks in the recent past.

The reason why people are urged not to spread non-proven rumours about this deed, other deeds, and the general dangers of potential attacks is that it would cause panic in the public—which is allegedly what terrorists mainly want to achieve. To me, though, the most difficult question is not how I can manage to stay away from big crowds from now on. I hate (to be on christmas) [Gr,T/Asp;P,St-caps - ^ going to Christmas] markets anyway. To me, the most difficult question is what I can do to protect myself and the persons that are important to me from this kind of harm that could technically occur anywhere at any time. Is there anything anyone can do? Or do we just have to wait and see what happens next?

Pauline's edit:
When searching for an appropriate topic for my blog entry this evening, I stumbled across the news about what had just happened in Berlin. Because I could not resist reading up on the subject immediately, I have now decided to write about this incident instead of continuing to look for something else.
Of course, it is far too early to be able to say anything about the reasons why someone drove this truck into the crowd at a Berlin Christmas market—the news spokesperson mentioned often enough that it might have been either an accident or a terrorist attack. But if the latter should be the case, it would hardly be a great surprise to anyone. After all, it is to be expected that Germany is one of the closest targets for international terrorism, "succeeding" other European countries like France or Belgium that already have had to experience terrorist attacks in the recent past.
The reason why people are urged not to spread non-proven rumours about this deed, other deeds, and the general dangers of potential attacks is that it would cause panic in the public—which is allegedly what terrorists mainly want to achieve. To me, though, the most difficult question is not how I can manage to stay away from big crowds from now on. I hate going on Christmas markets anyway. To me, the most difficult question is what I can do to protect myself and the persons that are important to me from this kind of harm that could technically occur anywhere at any time. Is there anything anyone can do? Or do we just have to wait and see what happens next?