Tunisian Held in Berlin Attack Probe Freed

A 40-year-old Tunisian man held in connection with in the Dec. 19 Christmas market truck attack in Berlin has been released by officials, after investigators say they found no evidence of his contact with suspect Anis Amri before the rampage. Police said they detained the man, who authorities did not identify, because his telephone number saved in Amri’s phone. Spokeswoman Frauke Koehler said Thursday that officials suspected Amri sent him a message or a picture over an encrypted messaging service shortly before the attack that left 12 dead and dozens injured. However, “further investigations determined that the man who was provisionally detained isn’t this possible contact person of Anis Amri, so he had to be released from custody,” Koehler later said. Police have said Amri’s fingerprints and wallet were found in the truck used in the attack.