At least 12 people have died and some 48 people injured after a migrant is believed to have ploughed a lorry into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market.

A truck, reportedly a stolen Polish lorry being driven by a refugee from either Afghanistan or Pakistan, ran over unsuspecting shoppers and destroyed buildings shortly after 8pm local time.

Pictures show debris scattered across the street, the damaged frontage of the black Scania and authorities removing bodies.

Police say the Polish lorry was stolen and that the male refugee lorry driver is believed to have arrived in Germany in February Sean Gallup/Getty (Sean Gallup/Getty)

The refugee is believed to have come from either Afghanistan or Pakistan Sean Gallup/Getty (Sean Gallup/Getty)

Authorities are seen removing bodies at the Breitscheidplatz market Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)

Police have stormed a refugee camp elsewhere in Germany Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)

The tragedy followed a mirror incident in the French city of Nice in July Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)

The truck driver mounted the pavement in what appears to be a deliberate assault Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty (Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty)