The driver of a rented truck shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he deliberately plowed into pedestrians and bicyclists in lower Manhattan, killing eight and injuring at least 12 others.
The driver steered the Home Depot truck onto a bicycle path alongside the Hudson River and mowed down those in his path, then got out and brandished two imitation firearms. Witnesses told police that the driver yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, which the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism, CNN reported.
Authorities identified the man as Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, 29, a Uzbekistan national in the U.S. since 2010.
Police shot Saipov in the abdomen and took him into custody. He was being treated at a local hospital and was expected to survive.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it a “cowardly act of terror.”
President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday evening that the United States must keep up the fight against the Islamic State.
“We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Trump tweeted. “Enough!”
Earlier, Trump referred to the attacker, then unidentified, as a “very sick and deranged person.”
My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
“This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed at innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them,” de Blasio said.
Saipov jumped out of the truck and screamed “Allahu Akbar,” witnesses told Fox News Channel and other news organizations.
“I saw the car crash so I ran up the bridge,” a witness told PIX11, adding:
When I ran up the bridge, I saw this dude with two guns. The guy with the two guns, for some reason, was running around. He was getting chased. And then all of the sudden, four shots went off and we all just started running.
Saipov was brandishing what appeared to be firearms, but turned out to be a paintball gun and a pellet gun.
Police were not looking for other suspects in the attack. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is heading the investigation.
This report was updated to include the name of the suspect and other developments.
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