DFA checking Filipino casualties after van rams restaurant in Germany



The Philippine Embassy in Berlin is checking if there were Filipinos killed or hurt after a man drove a van into a restaurant in Muenster, Germany.
Embassy Chargè d'Affaires Lilibeth Pono said they have requested the Philippine Honorary Consul in Essen, Heinz-Peter Heidrich, to assist in coordinating with the police in Muenster.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, advised Filipinos in Germany to be vigilant following the incident.
The DFA Pono said there are at least 22,500 Filipinos in Germany and around 4,100 are living in the area where the incident happened.
A report by Agence France-Presse said a man drove a van into Grosser Kiepenkerl Restaurant killing two persons. The man then reportedly shot himself inside the van.
At least 20 people were injured, 10 of them seriously, in the incident.
Pono is also urging Filipinos living near the area of the incident to contact the embassy through numbers +49-173-521-5703 (hotline); +49-173-521-5702 if they are aware of any Filipino casualties in the incident.
Police have ruled out terrorism. Reports said the van driver had psychological problems and attempted suicide recently. —ALG, GMA News

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