Shortly before 7pm “several collisions occurred on the Federal Motorway 100, which, according to initial investigations, are related and must be considered intentional attacks on other road users”, a joint statement from the Berlin police and the Berlin Public Prosecutor General’s Office read.

It added that statements made by the suspect suggested “a religious Islamist motivation” with “indications of psychological instability”.

The suspect was taken into police custody and questioned, with investigations taken over by the State Police Department of the State Criminal Police Office.

Police have “so far been unable to find any evidence of membership of a terrorist organisation”, according to the statement.

Investigations are ongoing and the suspect is expected to be brought before a judge on attempted murder charges later today.