Berlin terror suspect gunned down by police in shootout in Italy

Italy's interior minister is confirming that police in Milan were involved in a gunfight with the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market truck attack and that the suspect has been shot and killed. Tunisian immigrant Anis Amri was the subject of a massive manhunt after his asylum documents were discovered in the cab of the truck used in the attack.

Italy's interior minister: Berlin attack suspect shot dead in Milan https://t.co/3XMwYBSGKX pic.twitter.com/XVsahI9QRn

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The Italian news agency ANSA reported that Amri was stopped during a routine police check at around 3 a.m. local time and was asked to show his identity documents. He allegedly pulled a gun from his backpack and shot an officer in the shoulder. The other officer then shot and killed Amri, Minniti said. He said the wounded officer's condition was not life-threatening.

Some Italian sources are reporting that Amri yelled out "Allahu Akbar!" during the gunfight with police.

Authorities had first detained a different asylum-seeker the day of the attack but later released him from lack of evidence.

Since sounding the alarm about Amri, much has been discovered about his troubled past that should have been a red flag to authorities.

Amri had been the subject of terror probe but the surveillance was dropped when no conclusive evidence of an imminent attack could be determined. Prior to that he had spent time in jail for burning down a refugee center and was ordered to go back to Tunisia, a command he disobeyed. Chancellor Angela Merkel is now facing tough questions from those who are blaming this and other attacks on her enthusiastic call for refugees to Germany.

The horrific attack on Germans shopping and celebrating in the traditional Christmas market killed 12 people and injured 48.