Small plane crashes at German parliament

Policemen try to extinguish flames from a small aircraft following a crash in front of the Reichstag in Berlin in this photograph taken by an amateur photographer. Picture / Reuters

BERLIN - The pilot of an ultra-light aircraft was killed when it crashed onto the lawn in front of the Reichstag building that houses the German lower house of parliament in central Berlin today, police said.

Berlin Interior Minister Ehrhart Koerting told a news conference at the scene there was no indication the crash was in any way related to terrorism.

The plane appeared to have taken off from Brandenburg, the eastern state that surrounds the German capital, Koerting said, adding that the pilot's identity was still unknown.

"Nothing indicates that this had anything to do with terrorism. It appears at this point that it may have been some sort of accident or a case of suicide," he told reporters.

The single-engined aircraft burst into flames on impact and personnel from the parliament rushed over and pulled the burning pilot from the wreckage, witnesses told Reuters.

David Silveira, a tourist from Brazil, said he saw the aircraft flying upside down and out of control near the Reichstag.

"If he had wanted to fly into the Reichstag he could have. He was clearly out of control and trying to land the plane," Silveira said. The pilot was a heavy-set, elderly man, he added.

- REUTERS