Berlin truck terror attack puts pressure on Merkel's re-election hopes

Via emailed comments to CNBC, Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform said that it was still too early to tell how much this will impact Merkel's electoral chances.

"There are still months to go before the elections, and she has plenty of time to show that the government is on top of the terrorist threat," Bond explained.

"But if there are more attacks, especially if they involve asylum seekers, then that is likely to increase the vote for the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany," he added.