Berlin attack: Tunisian man 'identified as suspect' from truck documents

German police are hunting a Tunisian man over the Berlin market attack after finding documents in the lorry, according to reports.

The identity document was found under the driver's seat of the vehicle - which ploughed into crowds at the Christmas market on Monday evening, killing 12 people.

Der Spiegel and Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the document, apparently asylum office papers announcing a stay of deportation, was in the name of Anis A, born in 1992 in Tataouine, Tunisia.

The suspect was also known to have two aliases, according to the newspapers.

Bild said Anis A was known to police for bodily harm and is considered dangerous.

German media has said a police operation is under way in the North Rhine-Westphalia state as the manhunt continues.

Die Welt said the identity documents were issued in Kleve, and the suspect - who had applied for asylum - had an address in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia.

He had been charged with assault in the summer, but failed to appear in court, the newspaper reported.

It comes after reports that a Polish man, whose lorry was hijacked before being used to wreak havoc, was beaten and stabbed and is thought to have only been shot dead after the attack.

The body of Lukasz Urban, 37, was found in the cab of the lorry in Breischeidplatz after it smashed through the market for up to 80m (260ft).

Bild reported that his boss - also said to be his cousin - was shown a picture of his injuries which suggested he had been alive until he was shot after the attack.

He told the newspaper: "It was terrible. There were bruises, fouling. His face was swollen. It looked like a fight."

An investigator told Die Welt newspaper that the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the driver several times, possibly because the Pole grabbed the steering wheel in an attempt to save people.

Berlin police say they have received 508 tips over the attack.

A 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker arrested near the market was released yesterday due to lack of evidence.

Six of those killed in the attack were German. Of the other five, one is thought to be an Italian woman.

Twenty four people injured in the attack remain in hospital, 14 in a critical condition.

Islamic State has claimed it was behind the attack. The group's news agency Amaq said one of its "soldiers" had carried out the deadly crash.

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