ISIS Attacks News 2017: Suspect in NYC Rampage Claims Connection to Terror Group
Eight people died and nearly a dozen were left injured when a man drove a rental pickup truck down a busy bicycle lane near the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City, at around 3 p.m.
The suspect was identified Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a 29-year-old male immigrant from Uzbekistan. He has been residing in the United States since 2010. A senior law enforcement official told CNN that a note was found inside the vehicle saying that the crime was done in the name of ISIS.
"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," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly said.
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According to The Guardian, the suspect was shot in the abdomen by authorities after he stepped out of the truck. Officials said he shouted "Allahu Akbar!" before he was apprehended, and they also later revealed that a pellet gun and a paintball gun were found inside the vehicle.
Despite the discovery of the said note and the suspect's words, the international terrorist group has not claimed responsibility for the rampage.
As per the same report, five of the casualties were identified as Argentinians named Diego Enrique Angelini, Hernán Diego Mendoza, Ariel Erlij, Alejandro Damián Pagnucco, and Hernán Ferruchi. An unnamed Belgian woman was also killed. The other two people who had died from the rampage are yet to be identified.
In a series of tweets, U.S. President Donald Trump called the incident "another attack by a very sick and deranged person."
He also said, "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere."
Authorities have cordoned off a Home Depot rental area in the state of New Jersey, where Saipov, the suspect, is believed to have rented the vehicle used in the attack.
