Munitions found near Berlin Christmas market
December 11, 2017
Police in Berlin were called to an underground parking garage in the western district of Charlottenburg on Sunday after a tenant of the building found two plastic bags with 200 rounds of ammunition stashed behind some tires.
The surrounding area was searched with sniffer dogs but no further ammunition or weapons were found. According to police, the find had nothing to do with a nearby mosque or Christmas market.
When asked if there was a possible link to terrorism, a police spokesman replied: "Not at all."
"Ammunition is always being found in Berlin," said the spokesman. "Somebody was probably clearing their cellar out and found something from their grandfather."
Authorities routinely find and deactivate unexploded bombs, mines and other World War II munitions throughout Germany. More than 50 million bombs, shells, detonators and cartridges are believed to be rusting away in the North and Baltic Seas or on beaches.
Security concerns
Sunday's find comes as authorities are on high alert following last December's attack in central Berlin, in which a hijacked truck was rammed into a Christmas market, killing 12 people.
Read more: A year on from terror attack, Berlin Christmas market opens calmly
Earlier this month, experts made safe a device filled with nails that was delivered to a pharmacy near a Christmas market in Potsdam, near Berlin.
Security officials have warned that Germany could be targeted in further attacks, but have not highlighted any specific threats.
jm/cmk (dpa, Reuters)