MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday confirmed that no Filipinos were reported among the casualties in the van ramming incident in the historic city of Munster in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.
“We have been informed by Honorary Consul Heinz-Peter Heidrich that our kababayans in Munster and the rest of North Rhine-Westphalia are safe and accounted for,” Chargé d’Affaires Lilibeth Pono of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin said in her report to the DFA.
On Saturday, the Embassy issued an emergency advisory calling on the more than 22,500 Filipinos in Germany to be vigilant shortly after a man deliberately drove his van into a crowd of pedestrians in downtown Munster, 475 kilometers from Berlin.
Three persons, including the van driver, were killed and at least 20 others injured in the incident that German authorities said had nothing to do with terrorism.
The Philippines, through the DFA, expressed its condolences to Germany following the incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragedy in Munster,” DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.
“We also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured in the incident,” Cayetano said after receiving the report that 4,200 members of the Filipino community in North Rhine-Westphalia are safe. (PNA)
