The Berlin Christmas market attack suspect Anis Amri has been killed in Milan, according to Italian state police.

The suspect was killed in a shootout in Sesto San Giovanni -- a town near Milan -- just after 3:00 am local time, say Italian police in their Twitter feed, reports CNN.

When the man was asked for his papers, he pulled a .22 calibre gun out of his backpack and fired, continued the tweet.

The driver of the police car returned fire, killing the suspect. A policeman was injured in the shootout and is in hospital, according to Italian police.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti said the man shot was “without any doubt” Berlin terror suspect Anis Amri, in a press conference Friday.

He added that Italian officials had been in touch with German authorities about shooting.

The Interior Minister also thanked the “exceptional” Italian police forces, saying that they immediately identified and “neutralized” Amri.

Minniti added that they wouldn't be giving further details of the operation.

Twelve people were killed and dozens injured when a truck plowed into the busy market Monday.

BDST: 1632 HRS, DEC 23, 2016
SR