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Page 1 — Merkel admits omissions

Page 2 — Berlin's mayor asks victims for forgiveness

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Chancellor Angela Merkel has conceded omissions in connection with attack on Breitscheidplatz. "Today is a day of mourning, but also a day of will to do better what has not gone well," Merkel said after commemoration of first anniversary of assassination.

Previously, federal president Frank-WalterSteinmeier raised question of wher counter-terrorism measures were sufficient: "Are we really doing everything we can and must do in our democratic constitutional state to prevent terrorist attacks?" In view of investigative mishaps against assassin Anis Amri, he warned: "We need to educate failures and learn from mistakes." In addition, head of state called for more sympathy with victims ' relatives.

"unsparing conversation" with affected

On Monday, Merkel met with people and relatives in Federal Chancellery for first time. "It was a very open, even on part of people who are concerned, very unsparing conversation," said Merkel. The exchange has shown "what weaknesses our state has shown in such a situation". Merkel announced a new meeting in a few months. The question is: "What have we learned? What will we do differently in future? "

The survivors and injured of attack had criticized federal government, but also Berlin Senate and security authorities in an open letter. Among or things, it alleging that State did not provide sufficient financial support for parties concerned. The Chancellor accused m of never having personally turned to bereaved.

For many people, attack destroyed ir lives so far, Merkel said. The federal government will do "all people possible" to make it easier for those affected by an attack to come back to life. Merkel took part with or members of federal government, federal president and or top politicians at inauguration of a memorial site on Berlin Breitscheidplatz, place of assassination.

Previously, Berlin's governing mayor, Michael Müller (SPD), had also spoken. "Today we all stop," Müller said at handover of memorial. "The night of December 19 and days reafter will be remembered for a lifetime."

Date Of Update: 20 December 2017, 12:03