GETTY Anis Amri wanted to marry an EU national to avoid depotation

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According to German broadcaster ZDF, Amri targeted women across Germany and Switzerland on social media in the hope of luring an EU national. He is thought to have connected with at least 140 women asking them to marry him. Amri was in an “online relationship” with a Swiss national who had converted to Islam, when he killed 12 people when he drove a truck into a Christmas market in the capital.

Shortly before the attack, the killer asked the woman to meet in real life. The unnamed woman told investigators: “Yes, it could be that he wanted to marry, it was at times a topic. “My suggestion was to wait perhaps a year, but certainly not so fast.” The 29-year-old claims she “chatted normally” with the terrorist and also exchanged pictures and video messages.

GETTY Amri contacted at least 140 women online

Yes, it could be that he wanted to marry, it was at times a topic Anis Amri's unnamed online girlfriend

She said Amri - who was shot dead a few days after the December 19 attack - did not tell her much about himself. The woman said: “He told me that he lives in Germany and did not know anybody too well, and that he feels lonely from time to time.” She added Amri regularly ranted about how Muslims were being treated badly in Germany.

The last time the pair communicated was just before Christmas - the woman did not disclose whether this was before the attack or in the days after when he was on the run from police. Investigators tracked down the woman by using data from Amri's mobile phone. The woman, believed to be the unemployed daughter of a Swiss man and his Thai wife, converted to Islam in 2015.

GETTY The attack targeted a Christmas market in Berlin

She still maintains his innocence, claiming the attack was carried out by “Western secret services” or “other Islam haters” as a false flag operation. Another woman from Switzerland and a German woman from Brandenburg were also known to have been in online contact with Amri. The German TV show researching Amri's online wife hunt discovered his social media accounts had been deleted after the attack.

BERLIN TERROR: 'TWELVE' dead as truck crashed into crowd at Christmas market Tue, December 20, 2016 A truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin killing at least 12 and injuring 48 Play slideshow REUTERS•AFP 1 of 21 A truck crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin killing at least 12 and injuring 48