UPDATED 8.44am Islamic State is said to have claimed responsibility for the Berlin truck attack that left at least 12 people dead.

LISTEN ABOVE: Counter-terrorism specialist Yan St-Pierre spoke to Mike Hosking

The report's from a local news station.

Islamic State's claims come as German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the perpetrator of the truck attack is probably still on the run.

The owner of the truck thinks his vehicle may have been hijacked.

A suspect arrested in connection with the crime, has been released due to lack of evidence.

Mr de Maiziere adds police hadn't just followed a single lead but multiple leads from the start.

He said it's beyond doubt that the truck incident was an attack, but the motives remain unclear.

Counter-terrorism expert Yan St-Pierre told Mike Hosking the real suspect has benefited from the chaos of the situation, and it'll take time to find him.

"But where it really takes time is taking all of the CCTV footage, and footage uploaded by residents of Berlin on their cellphones, into a police-supported platform."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is vowing to punish whoever's responsible.

"This is a very difficult day. I, like millions of people in Germany, I am horrified. This is incomprehensible that robbed them of their life.

"Twelve people who were among us yesterday and were happy about Christmas will not be here during our Christmas holidays."

Peter Newmann, a professor of security studies at King's College in London, said investigators have to start from scratch in their hunt for the attacker.

"They don't really know where to look because the crime scene has dispersed, everyone has gone away and no one knows where the possible suspect is."

Reuters' Noah Barkin told Rachel Smalley similar markets across Berlin have been closed in the wake of the attack.

"Christmas markets are a very important part of the holiday season in Berlin. In Germany there's something like 160 million visitors to Christmas markets every year."