WHY WASN'T HE LOCKED UP? Terrorist who drove big rig into Christmas crowd was a well-known refugee terror suspect

Terrorist came to Europe seeking asylum.

The hunt continues for Anis Amri, the terrorist from Tunisia who drove a big rig truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 48. We know his identity because he left his identification in the truck.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- German authorities are searching for Anis Amri, 24, the terrorist who drove a big rig truck into a crowd of people in a bustling Berlin Christmas market. The Islamic State has acknowledged the attacks and praised the terrorist.

German authorities are offering a reward of 100,000 Euros to anyone with information that leads to his arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities fear he may stage another attack soon.

Perhaps the most upsetting fact about Amri is that he has been known to the authorities for some time, has a lengthy criminal records, and was finally slated for deportation back to Tunisia, but his papers for deportation did not arrive until two days after his attack. It is possible he carried out the attack in advance of his pending deportation.

Amri is from Tunisia and has family there. Local police say they interviewed the family, and the family states he deserves the highest condemnation, if guilty.

Amri traveled to Italy and was granted asylum there. He was placed in a refugee camp where he committed acts of violence and set a school ablaze. He was sent to jail for four years. Following his release, he traveled to Germany where he sought refugee status.

Germany quickly identified him as a dangerous individual and placed him under surveillance. He also lacked the correct papers to remain in the country, but a liberal law allowed him to stay temporarily.

Amri made use of his time attending radical sermons, communicating with radicalized German youths, and plotting fresh evil. He was arrested on three occasions for attempting to sell drugs, getting into a fight with a knife, planning a robbery, and seeking to buy weapons. He also possessed fake Italian papers for himself.

German authorities decided to extradite him back to Tunisia, where he had previously been convicted in absentia of crimes, but they required Tunisian officials to send papers to facilitate the extradition. Those papers arrived two days after his brutal attack in Berlin.

Authorities were able to identify him because he left identification papers in the footwell of the big rig he was driving. The rig was hijacked earlier in the day. The driver, Lucasz Urban, was shot and killed.

Amri remains at large and frequently alters his appearance. His most identifiable feature is his nose, which is bent slightly to its right.

Authorities fear he will carry out another attack soon, and that his apprehension will be a deadly event.

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