Podcast “Survivors”
Five years of the Christmas market attack
Christian B. is run over by the truck on Breitscheidplatz and barely survives. This is his story
In the attack on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, Christian B. is run over by the 40-ton truck that the assassin is driving. That he is not dead immediately borders on a miracle. Christian B. reports on his near-death experience – and expresses criticism of the German security authorities.
This article first appeared in 2019. On the fifth anniversary of the assassination, we’re playing it again.
The podcast is of course also available at Audio Now, Spotify, iTunes and other podcast providers.
Berlin, the last Monday before Christmas 2016. Christian B. (name changed by the editorial team) picked up a Christmas present for his wife shortly before the shop closed. To get home faster, he then takes a shortcut and walks across the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz. At that moment, the assassin steers a 40-ton truck into the middle of the crowd. Christian B. is hit by the semi-trailer, rolled over and seriously injured. That he is not dead immediately borders on a miracle.
In the podcast, the 59-year-old family man, who only woke up from his coma six months later, talks about his near-death experiences in the months after the attack. “Death was a temptation that I resisted,” he says. He blames German security authorities for his fate. He is convinced that if they had worked reasonably well, the assassination attempt on Breitscheidplatz could have been prevented.
>> To the overview of all “survivors” episodes
>> Here you can find the multimedia project on “Survivors” with other survivors in a video interview.
