The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #161183 Message #3828135
Posted By: Dave the Gnome
22-Dec-16 - 05:28 PM
Thread Name: BS: A new political low take 2
Subject: RE: BS: A new political low take 2
Interesting chain of events that puts Farage's statement that started this exchange in context.
In 2010 Anis Amri, the suspect now being hunted for the Berlin terror attack, was accused of stealing a lorry in his homeland of Tunisia. His family say he drank, had girlfriends, and was not overtly religious.
In February 2011 he was charged with armed robbery but fled the country. He was convicted in his absence and handed a five year sentence.
He went to Italy, where he he claimed asylum as a minor - he was probably about 17 at the time - but after a series of crimes including arson at a school he was given a four year jail sentence.
Upon his release in early 2015 he was taken to a detention centre to await deportation. His family say he had become religious. In July his expulsion order expired because Tunisia didn't sort out the paperwork.
He was ordered to leave Italy anyway, and so crossed into Germany where he claimed asylum in July 2015.
In August 2015, German president Angela Merkel responded to the growing migrant crisis by saying her country would take in 1million Syrians.
She was heavily criticised by right-wing politicians, who said this was an open invitation to terrorists.
In February 2016 Amri moved to Berlin and a month later came under investigation after a tip-off to police that he was preparing an act of terror.
In June 2016 his claim for asylum was rejected. He was detained for a day but because he had no identity documents they could not establish he was the right man, so had to let him go. By this point he claimed six separate identities and three different nationalities.
In August 2016 Amri was arrested for a minor offence, and Germany asked Tunisia to provide a passport so they could deport him.
In September 2016 surveillance was called off. Amri was seen dealing drugs and fighting in a bar, but there was no sign of terrorism.
(Source Daily Mirror)
These are the facts that we know about the suspect. There are other things that could be deduced by the forensic evidence in the truck but I do not care to speculate on them save to say that it looks like the Polish lorry driver put up and fight.
So, based on what we do know I believe that Farage has been proven to be wrong in blaming Angela Merkel and Brendan Cox has been vindicated for saying so.