Pakistani mistakenly held over Berlin attack accuses police of abuse

The Pakistani asylum seeker detained and released immediately after a terrorist attack on a Berlin Christmas market, has accused police of abusing him, according to a report. Before, strong evidence indicated that prime suspect Tunisian Anis Amri had driven a lorry into crowds of people last week. Berlin police had initially picked up Pakistani refugee […]

The Pakistani asylum seeker detained and released immediately after a terrorist attack on a Berlin Christmas market, has accused police of abusing him, according to a report.

Before, strong evidence indicated that prime suspect Tunisian Anis Amri had driven a lorry into crowds of people last week.

Berlin police had initially picked up Pakistani refugee Naveed B after witnesses claimed to have followed him from the scene of the Berlin attack that left 12 dead.

He said “digging the heels of their shoes into my feet’’ and an officer had put “great pressure on my neck with his hand.’’

At another point he was to be photographed, while undressed and was slapped repeatedly for resisting, the report published.

dpa contacted German police for comment Friday, but they gave no immediate response.

The detention and quick release of Naveed B became an embarrassment for German police as they came under pressure to find the Berlin attacker.

According to the Guardian, Naveed decided to speak out in order to prove to others that he was innocent, saying he feared for his life if people associated him with the terrorist attack.

“My family and I agree we would be safer if we speak out, and the sooner the better,’’ he said.

In addition, he feared for his family in Pakistan, who had been contacted by security forces.

Naveed was politically active in Pakistan’s restive province of Baluchistan and had to flee because of threats to his life, the Guardian quoted him as saying.

The report said when released, the Pakistani was not returned to his previous dwelling at a refugee shelter, but was brought to another location to prevent him from being attacked by violent opponents to refugees.

Naveed told the Guardian that he was told by police not to leave without telling them first. (dpa/NAN)