Shocked EastEnders fans slam 'insensitive' bus crash plot in light of Berlin terror attack
EastEnders fans have criticised the soap over an “insensitive” scene where a bus crashes into a market just a month after a terror attack in Berlin.
Monday night's shocking episode saw a double decker bus smash through market stalls in busy Albert Square – with up to 11 characters now fighting for their lives.
But viewers hit out at BBC producers for “bad taste” in light of the 12 people who died when a truck was deliberately driven into a Berlin Christmas market in December.
Taking to Twitter to vent their astonishment, one said: “Such bad taste airing that after the recent terrorist attack on the market in Germany...awful.”
Another, Selena Cochrane added: “How disgusting ramming the market with a bus after what happened in Germany . Disrespectful not a good move poor taste.”
Such bad taste airing that after the recent terrorist attack on the market in Germany...awful #eastenders @bbceastenders #BadTaste
— Billy Davis (@Billy_Davis1991) January 23, 2017
#eastenders omg how disgusting ramming the market with a bus after what happened in Germany . Disrespectful not a good move poor taste
— Selena Cochrane (@SelenaCochrane) January 23, 2017
Many compared the horrific scene, in which the bus driver suffers a heart attack and accidentally crashes, to the Isis-inspired terrorist attacks on Berlin and also Nice.
In July 2016, a truck deliberately driven into the Bastille Day crowds on a Nice promenade killed 86 people.
One Twitter user said: “Nice, France and Berlin, Germany... Where's the respect?! I'm appalled at EastEnders!”
Geoffrey barker, from Hertfordshire, said: “Very very poor story line in EastEnders considering the true life lorries killing people in Nice and Germany.”
Jack Snelling, from Essex, admitted: “Well #eastenders was explosive yes, but a bus through a market? Can't help but feel it's too soon after the Germany bus attack"
Nice, France and Berlin, Germany... Where's the respect?! I'm appalled at EastEnders! #EastEnders
— 💜Madeleine Borley💜 (@BorleyMaddie) January 23, 2017
Very very poor story line in Eastenders considering the true life lorries killing people in Nice and Germany
— Geoffrey Barker (@geofftheyido) January 23, 2017
Well #eastenders was explosive yes, but a bus through a market? Can't help but feel it's too soon after the Germany bus attack.
— Jack Snelling (@JackSnelling24) January 23, 2017
so there gonna be a story on eastenders about a bus driving through a market bit of an insult to the victims in Berlin is it not?
— DJ CJON (@Cjon_Mc) January 24, 2017
I think the bus crashing into the market in #Eastenders is in bad taste considering what happened in #Berlin over Xmas!
— Ryan Griffin (@ryangriffin89) January 23, 2017
The show hit back at the criticism, saying: "EastEnders is a fictional drama and the crash in tonight's episode was not based on any real-life event. We are always mindful of the content within our episodes."
Not all fans were upset by the similarities between the soap and the recent terrorist attacks.
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One said: “Some people really aren't happy unless they are moaning. Change the channel and let the REAL fans enjoy #eastenders.”
Another tweeted: “It's pathetic how easily offended people are these days. Like I said #eastenders is filmed months in advance. Do some research.”
The cliffhanger ending will continue in Tuesday night’s episode at 7.30pm.