The terrorist who killed eight and injured 12 by plowing a pickup truck into a bicycle lane in Manhattan on Tuesday was affiliated with ISIS.
Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, originally from Uzbekistan, reportedly shouted, “Allahu Akhbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – after driving his truck towards pedestrians, crashing it into a school bus and emerging from the vehicle waving fake guns on Tuesday afternoon.
“Allahu Akhbar” is familiar rallying cry for terrorists, often heard at the scenes of stabbings, shootings and beheadings by Islamic radical militants.
Saipov was shot by a police officer and taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery. Six of his victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and another two died in the hospital.
Details emerge of he New York Attacker – full report https://t.co/Ba4p4rClN2 pic.twitter.com/H9FujtxUCG
— WTX News (@WtxNews) November 1, 2017
Five of those killed were Argentines celebrating a high school reunion in New York. One of the victims was Jewish, identified as businessman Ariel Erlij, Arutz Sheva reported.
After the attack, investigators discovered an Arabic note inside Saipov’s rented truck in which the terrorist pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, which heavily encourages its followers and members to carry out violent attacks against Western “infidels.”
While New York authorities acknowledged that the attack was an act of terrorism, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that it appeared to be a lone wolf attack, unconnected with a larger plot by ISIS or any other radical group. It is fairly common for isolated individuals to self-radicalize with online propaganda.
Saipov, an Uber driver who the company reported had passed a background check, has been living in the US since 2010. He rented a truck from Home Depot in New Jersey before driving to Manhattan to carry out the attack.
Using trucks and other vehicles to perpetrate attacks on innocent civilians is a common terror tactic. The New York incident follows similar attacks in Berlin, Germany and Nice, France. Last April, another Uzbek national killed five people in Stockholm with a truck.
Automobiles are also a popular Palestinian weapon for killing and harming Israelis.
President Donald Trump reacted to the attack on Twitter with condolences and vows to crack down on immigration laws.
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
I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement expressing solidarity with New York, promising that Israel and the US would defeat the scourge of terrorism together.
We pray for the victims and their families. Together we will defeat this scourge.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) November 1, 2017
